Romans 11:1-10

I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God did not reject his people, whom he foreknew. Don’t you know what Scripture says in the passage about Elijah—how he appealed to God against Israel: 3 “Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars; I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me”? 4 And what was God’s answer to him? “I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” 5 So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. 6 And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.

7 What then? What the people of Israel sought so earnestly they did not obtain. The elect among them did, but the others were hardened, 8 as it is written:

“God gave them a spirit of stupor,
    eyes that could not see
    and ears that could not hear,
to this very day.”

9 And David says:

“May their table become a snare and a trap,
    a stumbling block and a retribution for them.
10 May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see,
    and their backs be bent forever.”

- Romans 11:1-10

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God has the power to be nice and gift righteousness to people OR just punish humans for their sins forever. Everyone's fate is all in God's hands. What does He choose to do? 

Through the grace of God, people even the Gentiles have the free opportunity to receive salvation from God even though humans are all sinful in nature and don't really deserve it. During Paul's time, the people of Israel kept disobeying God and rejected the Gospel. However, Paul explains that God does not reject them. He shows grace. Paul refers back to the Old Testament stories to illustrate that there is a small remnant- a group of people chosen to be saved and show faith to God. Because of that remnant, Paul has hope that there are people out there who will show faith and love Jesus as much as he does. There is still a chance for people out there to know all about Jesus.

God will use this small group of people who will understand the Gospel and show faith to Christ Jesus. For everyone else, because of their disobedience, God will keep their hearts hardened and let them continue their doings which will result in their own failure.

I'm sure Paul felt like no one was listening to him and probably wanted to give up preaching the Gospel. But he looked on the bright side and remembered there is still hope. That God is still with him. If there is a time you feel like giving up, remember that there is a light at the end of the tunnel and God is always guiding you there.