Paul the Poke

Isaiah 10:21 A remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob, to the mighty God.

God always sets aside a group of core believers that is called the remnant. There are examples of the remnant in both the Old and New Testaments. Two examples include 2 Kings 19:31 and Romans 11:4-5. Notice, it is God who achieves and chooses this remnant. There are many examples noted throughout the Bible of God choosing a remnant. The chosen people in this verse is specific and will come from the line of Jacob, nation Israel.

Gibbowr is the Hebrew for “mighty”. It could also be translated strong or brave. Some scholars think this term is Messianic in nature and hints at the return of Christ or their Davidic King (NET Bible).

Isaiah 10:22 For though your people, O Israel, may be like the sand of the sea, only a remnant within them will return; a destruction is determined, overflowing with righteousness.

The positive is there will be a group of people preserved. The negative is the majority will be judiciously removed. There is a reminder of the promise God made to Abraham imbedded in the verse. The promise to Abraham is noted in Genesis 22:17 …indeed I will greatly bless you, and I will greatly multiply your seed as the stars of the heavens and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your seed shall possess the gate of their enemies.   See also Genesis 15:5.

In Romans 9:27 the Apostle Paul quotes Isaiah 10:22. The context of the passages in Romans is Israel will not be cast away. A remnant of Israel will be preserved. God is not through with nation Israel. Paul’s message is directed to Gentiles Romans 11:13 But I am speaking to you who are Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle of Gentiles…

It is also a reminder to the gentiles that God is saving a remnant of gentiles as well. Romans 11:5 In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God’s gracious choice. Gentiles are a grafted branch in the place of a natural broken branch (Israel) of the olive tree, God’s family (Romans 11). 

Isaiah 10:23 For a complete destruction, one that is decreed, the Lord GOD of hosts will execute in the midst of the whole land.

In Romans 9:28 the Apostle Paul quotes Isaiah 10:23. Judgment will be thorough and swift.

The verses regarding nation Israel were not prophetically fulfilled during the writing of the Apostle Paul and they have not been fulfilled as of November 2013. God has not finished his work with Israel to date. These difficult events are yet to come. A remnant of Israel will be preserved.

This entry was posted on November 17, 2013 at 8:58 AM and is filed under Isaiah, Prophecy with tags Abrahamic Covenant, Apostle Paul, Genesis 15, Gentiles, God, Grace, Isaiah 10, Israel, Remnant, Romans 11, Romans 9. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.