Romans 9:27-29 And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: “Though the number of the sons of Israel be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will be saved, 28 for the Lord will carry out his sentence upon the earth fully and without delay.” 29 And as Isaiah predicted, “If the Lord of hosts had not left us offspring, we would have been like Sodom and become like Gomorrah.”
Paul quotes from another Old Testament prophet to add support to his ideas. Isaiah spoke about a remnant who would be saved. Israel as a whole was wicked and rebellious. The Old Testament historical books record generation after generation of people who worshipped idols and were immoral in many ways. Yet, there was also a small group of people who remained faithful to God and covenant. They kept the light shining, even though it got difficult at times. Israel of Paul’s day was similar, although idolatry was not an issue. Rather, many of the Jews of Paul’s day had gotten caught up in “religion” and missed covenantal relationship. Paul is taking these ideas and implying an argument that goes something like this: Jews are like Israel of Isaiah’s time. They have forsaken God’s plan of salvation through Jesus Christ. However, there are some Jews who believe and thus become part of the new people of God. The warning is that those who do not believe will be cut off from God’s people and rejected. No longer will a corporate sense of Israel be adequate. In fact, it never was adequate. Each person and household was responsible before God. The direction of the nation never had to be the direction of the individual or family. Faith is an individual choice, no matter how much social pressure there may be to conform to the group. Individual Jews had the opportunity to believe in Jesus. Paul implies a warning also by quoting Isaiah. Those who reject God’s plan of salvation through Jesus will be judged. This is an echo of the warning Paul gave back in 2:1-5. Those who remain in their pride and self-righteousness will be judged like Sodom and Gomorrah. A little fear of judgment can actually have a positive result.
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