Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
17 But they sinned even more against Him
By (A)rebelling against the Most High in the wilderness.
18 And (B)they tested God in their heart
By asking for the food of their fancy.
19 (C)Yes, they spoke against God:
They said, “Can God prepare a table in the wilderness?
20 (D)Behold, He struck the rock,
So that the waters gushed out,
And the streams overflowed.
Can He give bread also?
Can He provide meat for His people?”
52 But He (A)made His own people go forth like sheep,
And guided them in the wilderness like a flock;
53 And He (B)led them on safely, so that they did not fear;
But the sea (C)overwhelmed their enemies.
54 And He brought them to His (D)holy border,
This mountain (E)which His right hand had acquired.
55 (F)He also drove out the nations before them,
(G)Allotted them an inheritance by [a]survey,
And made the tribes of Israel dwell in their tents.
9 And there he went into a cave, and spent the night in that place; and behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and He said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
10 So he said, (A)“I have been very (B)zealous for the Lord God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and (C)killed Your prophets with the sword. (D)I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.”
God’s Revelation to Elijah
11 Then He said, “Go out, and stand (E)on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord (F)passed by, and (G)a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind 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 [a]a still small voice.
13 So it was, when Elijah heard it, that (H)he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. (I)Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
14 (J)And he said, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts; because the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.”
15 Then the Lord said to him: “Go, return on your way to the Wilderness of Damascus; (K)and when you arrive, anoint Hazael as king over Syria. 16 Also you shall anoint (L)Jehu the son of Nimshi as king over Israel. And (M)Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah you shall anoint as prophet in your place. 17 (N)It shall be that whoever escapes the sword of Hazael, Jehu will (O)kill; and whoever escapes the sword of Jehu, (P)Elisha will kill. 18 (Q)Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, (R)and every mouth that has not kissed him.”
Israel’s Rejection Not Total
11 I say then, (A)has God cast away His people? (B)Certainly not! For (C)I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God has not cast away His people whom (D)He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel, saying, 3 (E)“Lord, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life”? 4 But what does the divine response say to him? (F)“I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” 5 (G)Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace. 6 And (H)if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. [a]But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.