This passage is important to meditate on because some people assume that God chose in advance those who are going to be saved, while, as we read here, we find out that the Bible clearly depicts the fact that what happened to the people of Israel was caused by their stubbornness as they preferred to follow other gods: “I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal” (verse 4). that many people’s hearts were hardened: “What the people of Israel sought so earnestly they did not obtain. The elect among them did, but the others were hardened, 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. (verses 7-8). In other words, it’s what we are looking for that we find! My brother, my sister, what happened yesterday is still happening today. God has called us for salvation. Yet, the choice depends on us individually. And it is the same today. if like the Jews, some people reject the message of salvation, there are still a faithful remnant (verse 5) that does not. And the same as those who were faithful to God were considered true Jews (verse 5), today it is those who are faithful to Christ who are true Christians. Besides, we are saved by grace through faith in Christ, not because we are part of a nation, a religion or a family. So, if you secretly think that God chose you because you deserve it, then you are deluding yourself, because it implies that you also believe that some people’s behaviour is so bad that God cannot possibly save them. Salvation is a free gift of God and it can only be accepted with thankfulness and praise (verse 6). However, God can remove someone’s ability to see and hear and even turn from their own sin, for that person to experience the consequences of their rebellion by hardening their hearts, when they stubbornly reject His salvation (verse 7). Today, as Christians, let’s realise that those who resist God are in a way telling Him “leave me a alone”. But because God is always and everywhere, His answer to such prayer might be to agree (because he does not force anyone to do anything) and make that person less sensitive, more hardened to Him (verse 7-8). That is the reason why we need to always ask the Lord for ears to hear what He tells us an eyes to see what He wants us to see, so that we can remain open and responsive to His message, His calling, His mission. Stay blessed in Jesus’ name. [facebook] [retweet]