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Seven Thousand Who Still Ride

¹ So, do you think God has somehow double-crossed his own people? That's foolishness! I'm an Israelite, an ancestor of Abraham and part of the Benjamite Crew.

² God didn't double-cross his own people. He chose them from the get-go. Have you not studied the Good Book? Elijah complained to God about his own people when he said, ³ "Lord, they've ambushed and killed all of your true followers and torn down your special places. I'm all that's left and I'm being hunted like wolves after a rabbit."

⁴ Don't forget God's reply. "Don't think for a minute you know what's happening Elijah. I still have over seven thousand cowboys who haven't bent the knee to Baal!"

⁵ Not much has changed since then. There are a few Israelites who have remained faithful to the brand. This brand is based on grace and kindness from God, ⁶ not following rules and regulations. If it was about the latter, then God's grace wouldn't have the power it does. It is free and totally undeserved.

⁷ So, here's the deal amigos, most folks ain't come to God for the life they've been prowling the brush for. There have been a few, but those are the ones he has chosen. The rest of their hearts have become hardened. ⁸ The Good Book says, "After all God did for them, he finally turned 'em loose to their own devices. He shut their eyes like the blind and closed their ears like the deaf."

⁹ Even David said, "Let all you've done be their undoing. Let them trip over your blessings and think they are getting somewhere. ¹⁰ Shield your glory from their eyes and let their backs break for all time."

¹¹ So, has God totally given up on them? Again, no! Sure, they've been trying it their own way, but all that got them was God inviting the outsiders to his table. It wasn't that he shunned his people, it was so they might become jealous of the favor he granted the outsiders and come back to Him. ¹² If God would give so much to outsiders, think about how much he would give his own people.

¹³ I'm not blowing smoke, I'm talking to you outsiders now. God has given me the responsibility to go out and gather your pastures for his brand. I've got a good motive, too! ¹⁴ I want the people of Israel to become green with envy over y'alls relationship with God. I hope this will spur some of them to change their ways. ¹⁵ They turned their backs on God's grace so he turned toward y'all outsiders. But how much better would it be if God's own people would come back to Him? It would be like bringing the dead back to life. ¹⁶ Since Abe and the other patriarchs were holy, surely there is some holy fruit left. If the roots are holy, the branches can be, too.

¹⁷ But some of these branches have been broken off. You outsiders have been grafted in like an apple branch grafted on a pear tree. So, now you get all the benefits that have been long reserved for only Israel. ¹⁸ But don't go spoutin' off at the mouth. You're a grafted branch, not the roots of the tree.

¹⁹ Some might be saying, "Well, those branches were broken off so we could squeeze in." ²⁰ While that's true, remember you are there because of your faith in Christ. They were broken off because they rejected him. Instead of bragging about this, switch to just being thankful you haven't been broken off and thrown in the fire. ²¹ If God didn't hesitate to cut his own people off, don't think you are somehow immune if you turn your back.

²² God is both dangerous and kind. He is dangerous to the disobedient, but kind to those who seek his guidance through Christ. But if you turn your back, the axe is coming out. ²³ If Israel will come back, they will be welcomed back. But it will be on God's terms, not theirs. ²⁴ You outsiders were like a wild branch cut from the wilderness and grafted in God's orchard. If he did this for you, do not think he would hesitate to bring his own people back.

Mercy for the Multitudes

²⁵ I know this is hard to understand, like a mystery, but do not start thinking too highly of yourselves. Yes, some of the Israel's cowboys have hard hearts, but this is only until the right number of outsiders have been brought into the herd through Jesus. ²⁶ And then, Israel will come back and be rescued from the fire. The Good Book says, "The cowboy who can save will come from Jerusalem and save Israel from the quicksand of ungodliness. ²⁷ I've made a promise to them to take away their sins."

²⁸ Israel has become an enemy of the good news. But their loss is your gain for now. Yet, God still loves them because of the grandpappies Abe, Isaac, and Jake. ²⁹ God's gifts and his calling can never be thrown away. ³⁰ Once, you outsiders were enemies of God and Israel wasn't. ³¹ Now, y'all have swapped sides. ³² Everyone has turned their back on God, but his mercy is greater.

³³ There is nothing better than God's riches and his wisdom. There ain't no way we can ever truly understand his ways or his reasonings. ³⁴ Who knows what he's thinking? Who thinks they can offer advice? ³⁵ Has anyone given so much that God owes them something back?

³⁶ There's nothing we have that he didn't make or have a hand in. It's not for our personal glory, but only his. Give him the glory forever! Amen.