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17 Yet they kept on sinning against him,
    rebelling against the Most High in the desert.
18 They stubbornly tested God in their hearts,
    demanding the foods they craved.
19 They even spoke against God himself, saying,
    “God can’t give us food in the wilderness.
20 Yes, he can strike a rock so water gushes out,
    but he can’t give his people bread and meat.”

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17 Yet they sinned still more against him,
    (A)rebelling against the Most High in the desert.
18 They (B)tested God in their heart
    by demanding the food they craved.
19 They spoke against God, saying,
    (C)“Can God (D)spread a table in the wilderness?
20 (E)He struck the rock so that water gushed out
    and streams overflowed.
Can he also give bread
    or provide meat for his people?”

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52 But he led his own people like a flock of sheep,
    guiding them safely through the wilderness.
53 He kept them safe so they were not afraid;
    but the sea covered their enemies.
54 He brought them to the border of his holy land,
    to this land of hills he had won for them.
55 He drove out the nations before them;
    he gave them their inheritance by lot.
    He settled the tribes of Israel into their homes.

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52 Then he led out his people (A)like sheep
    and guided them in the wilderness like a flock.
53 (B)He led them in safety, so that they (C)were not afraid,
    but (D)the sea overwhelmed their enemies.
54 And he brought them to his (E)holy land,
    (F)to the mountain which his right hand had (G)won.
55 He (H)drove out nations before them;
    he (I)apportioned them for a possession
    and settled the tribes of Israel in their tents.

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There he came to a cave, where he spent the night.

The Lord Speaks to Elijah

But the Lord said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

10 Elijah replied, “I have zealously served the Lord God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.”

11 “Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the Lord told him. And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.

And a voice said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

14 He replied again, “I have zealously served the Lord God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.”

15 Then the Lord told him, “Go back the same way you came, and travel to the wilderness of Damascus. When you arrive there, anoint Hazael to be king of Aram. 16 Then anoint Jehu grandson of Nimshi[a] to be king of Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from the town of Abel-meholah to replace you as my prophet. 17 Anyone who escapes from Hazael will be killed by Jehu, and those who escape Jehu will be killed by Elisha! 18 Yet I will preserve 7,000 others in Israel who have never bowed down to Baal or kissed him!”

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Footnotes

  1. 19:16 Hebrew descendant of Nimshi; compare 2 Kgs 9:2, 14.

The Lord Speaks to Elijah

There he came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, (A)the word of the Lord came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 10 He said, “I have been very (B)jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, (C)thrown down your altars, and (D)killed your prophets with the sword, (E)and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” 11 And he said, “Go out and (F)stand on the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and (G)a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind (H)an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper.[a] 13 And when Elijah heard it, (I)he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, (J)there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 14 He said, (K)“I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, (L)thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” 15 And the Lord said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus. And when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael to be king over Syria. 16 (M)And Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint to be king over Israel, and (N)Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint to be prophet in your place. 17 And the one who escapes from (O)the sword of Hazael (P)shall Jehu put to death, and the one who escapes from the sword of Jehu (Q)shall Elisha put to death. 18 (R)Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not (S)kissed him.”

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Kings 19:12 Or a sound, a thin silence

God’s Mercy on Israel

11 I ask, then, has God rejected his own people, the nation of Israel? Of course not! I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham and a member of the tribe of Benjamin.

No, God has not rejected his own people, whom he chose from the very beginning. Do you realize what the Scriptures say about this? Elijah the prophet complained to God about the people of Israel and said, Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.”[a]

And do you remember God’s reply? He said, “No, I have 7,000 others who have never bowed down to Baal!”[b]

It is the same today, for a few of the people of Israel[c] have remained faithful because of God’s grace—his undeserved kindness in choosing them. And since it is through God’s kindness, then it is not by their good works. For in that case, God’s grace would not be what it really is—free and undeserved.

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Footnotes

  1. 11:3 1 Kgs 19:10, 14.
  2. 11:4 1 Kgs 19:18.
  3. 11:5 Greek for a remnant.

The Remnant of Israel

11 I ask, then, (A)has God rejected his people? By no means! For (B)I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham,[a] a member of the tribe of Benjamin. (C)God has not rejected his people whom he (D)foreknew. Do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he appeals to God against Israel? (E)“Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life.” But what is God's reply to him? (F)“I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” So too at the present time there is (G)a remnant, chosen by grace. (H)But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 11:1 Or one of the offspring of Abraham