The Acts of the Apostles (1911) — PDF Scan 381

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SALVATION TO THE JEWS 375 The prophet Isaiah, looking down through the centuries and witnessing the rejection of prophet after prophet and finally of the Son of God, was inspired to write concerning the acceptance of the Eedeemer by those who had never before been numbered among the children of Israel. Eeferring to this prophecy, Paul declares: ^'Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought Me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after Me. But to Israel He saith. All day long I have stretched forth My hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people. Even though Israel rejected His Son, God did not reject them. Listen to Paul as he continues the argument: ''I say then, Hath God cast away His people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. 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. Lord, they have killed Thy prophets, and digged down Thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life. But what saith the answer of God unto him! I have reserved to Myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.'' Israel had stumbled and fallen, but this did not make it impossible for them to rise again. In answer to the question, "Have they stumbled that they should fall?" the apostle replies: ''God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the