Romans 11:2

“God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying,”

Context: This verse is part of a larger passage in the book of Romans where the apostle Paul discusses the relationship between Israel and the Gentiles in God’s plan of salvation. In this particular verse, Paul emphasizes that God has not rejected or cast away His chosen people, the Israelites, whom He had foreknown.

To fully understand the context and meaning of this verse, it is helpful to explore the surrounding verses and the broader message of the chapter.

Romans 11: begins with Paul addressing the question of whether God has completely rejected His people, the Israelites, in light of the growing number of Gentile believers. Paul firmly asserts that God has not cast away His people. He reminds the readers that he himself is an Israelite, descended from the tribe of Benjamin, and asserts that there is a remnant of faithful Israelites who have remained true to God’s covenant.

In Romans 11:2, Paul references the example of the prophet Elijah (referred to as Elias in the KJV) to support his point. Elijah’s story can be found in 1 Kings 19:10, where he expresses his frustration and disappointment with the Israelites who had turned away from God and worshiped idols. Despite Elijah’s complaint, God had a remnant of faithful Israelites even during Elijah’s time, as God revealed to Elijah that there were still 7,000 who had not bowed down to the false gods (1 Kings 19:18).

By mentioning Elijah’s intercession against Israel, Paul highlights that even in Elijah’s time of frustration, God remained faithful to His people and preserved a remnant. Similarly, in Paul’s time, there were faithful Israelites who had not rejected God’s covenant and had embraced Jesus Christ as the promised Messiah.

Overall, Romans 11:2 conveys the message that God’s covenant with Israel is not nullified or invalidated. Even though some Israelites had rejected Jesus as the Messiah, God had not completely abandoned His chosen people. He had preserved a remnant of faithful Israelites who continued to be part of His redemptive plan.

In the subsequent verses, Paul goes on to explain that through the rejection of Jesus by some Israelites, salvation has come to the Gentiles. He emphasizes the Gentiles’ dependence on God’s grace and warns against arrogance or boasting on their part. Paul concludes the chapter by proclaiming God’s ultimate plan to save all Israel, saying that "all Israel shall be saved" (Romans 11:26).

In summary, Romans 11:2 assures believers that God has not cast away His people, the Israelites, whom He foreknew. It serves as a reminder of God’s faithfulness throughout history and highlights the existence of a remnant of faithful Israelites even during times of apparent spiritual decline.