Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
17 Yet they continued to sin against him,
and rebelled against the Most High[a] in the desert.
18 They willfully challenged God[b]
by asking for food to satisfy their appetite.
19 They insulted God, saying,[c]
“Is God really able to give us food[d] in the wilderness?
20 Yes,[e] he struck a rock and water flowed out;
streams gushed forth.
But can he also give us food?
Will he provide meat for his people?”
52 Yet he brought out his people like sheep;
he led them through the wilderness like a flock.
53 He guided them safely along, and they were not afraid;
but the sea covered their enemies.
54 He brought them to the border of his holy land,
to this mountainous land[a] that his right hand[b] acquired.
55 He drove the nations out from before them;
he assigned them their tribal allotments[c]
and allowed the tribes of Israel to settle down.[d]
9 He went into a cave there and spent the night. Suddenly the Lord’s message came to him, “Why are you here, Elijah?” 10 He answered, “I have been absolutely loyal[a] to the Lord God of Heaven’s Armies,[b] even though the Israelites have abandoned the covenant they made with you,[c] torn down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left and now they want to take my life.”[d] 11 The Lord[e] said, “Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord. Look, the Lord is ready to pass by.”
A very powerful wind went before the Lord, digging into the mountain and causing landslides,[f] but the Lord was not in the wind. After the windstorm there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake, there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. After the fire, there was a soft whisper.[g] 13 When Elijah heard it, he covered his face with his robe and went out and stood at the entrance to the cave. Suddenly[h] a voice asked him, “Why are you here, Elijah?” 14 He answered, “I have been absolutely loyal[i] to the Lord God of Heaven’s Armies,[j] even though the Israelites have abandoned the covenant they made with you, torn down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left and now they want to take my life.”[k] 15 The Lord said to him, “Go back the way you came and then head for the wilderness of Damascus. Go and anoint Hazael king over Syria. 16 You must anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to take your place as prophet. 17 Jehu will kill anyone who escapes Hazael’s sword, and Elisha will kill anyone who escapes Jehu’s sword. 18 I still have left in Israel 7,000 followers who have not bowed their knees to Baal or kissed the images of him.”[l]
Israel’s Rejection not Complete nor Final
11 So I ask, God has not rejected his people, has he? Absolutely not! For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew! Do you not know what the scripture says about Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel? 3 “Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars; I alone am left and they are seeking my life!”[a] 4 But what was the divine response[b] to him? “I have kept for myself 7,000 people[c] who have not bent the knee to Baal.”[d]
5 So in the same way at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. 6 And if it is by grace, it is no longer by works, otherwise grace would no longer be grace.
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