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But what does the divine response say to him? “I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to ba\u2019al.”<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n God wants us to keep our focus on Him, not on ourselves.<\/p>\n \u201cDivine response<\/span>\u201d is from chr\u0113matismos<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cthe answer from an oracle.\u201d It is often translated as \u201ca warning.\u201d This is not simply a response from God, but a stern warning to Elijah that he does not understand the real situation.<\/p>\n The Greek word translated \u201creserved<\/span>\u201d is kateleip\u014d<\/em><\/span>, which is a compound word made up of kata<\/em><\/span>, which means \u201cdown\u201d but is used here as an intensifier and leipo<\/em><\/span>, which means \u201cto leave.\u201d Literally, it means \u201cto leave behind,\u201d which is the negative use of this word. It is also used in a positive sense meaning \u201cto set apart or to reserve.\u201d<\/p>\n Paul is talking about Elijah the prophet of God who defeated the prophets of ba\u2019al in a contest on Mount Carmel to prove who is really God, Jehovah or ba\u2019al. When ba\u2019al failed (he is merely a god, not the true God), and Jehovah succeeded (He is truly the one and only GOD ALMIGHTY), Elijah commanded the people to kill all the false prophets. But then, in fear of Jezebel\u2019s threatened retaliation, he fled to the wilderness to a cave in Mt Horeb. Here Elijah lamented to God that all Israel had forsaken Him and that he alone remained of the faithful. Let\u2019s see how God responds to Elijah.<\/p>\n Paul tells us that the divine answer that God gave to Elijah is this, \u201cI have reserved for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to ba\u2019al.<\/span>\u201d In other words, even though Elijah thought he alone was still faithful, God warned him not to think so selfishly; there were seven thousand others who were also still faithful to God. Now, when compared to the hundreds of thousands, or even millions of Israelites in the land at that time, seven thousand doesn\u2019t sound like very many. But compared to Elijah\u2019s lament, \u201cI am left alone,\u201d seven thousand is a pretty big number. It\u2019s simply a matter of perspective and God\u2019s perspective is always the correct one.<\/p>\n The point is that God set apart a remnant of Israel who were still faithful to Him. You will notice that God did not say that there are seven thousand who have proven themselves to be faithful by their actions and deeds. He said that He had \u201creserved\u201d to Himself these seven thousand men. Here is God\u2019s message to Elijah, \u201cMy dear son, I have not left you alone, there are seven thousand others that I have set-apart to Myself. These have not bowed to ba\u2019al; they bow to Me.\u201d<\/p>\n Do you see the impact of what God says? He, as the active agent in the process, set-apart seven thousand Israelites to be faithful. He chose them, they did not choose Him! In the following verse Paul will call it \u201celection.\u201d<\/p>\n Isn\u2019t this the way it feels sometimes, when we are under spiritual attack? It seems that all is falling down around us and we are all alone with no one to turn to. But even if it were true that everyone else had forsaken us, we can always turn to God. He will never forsake those whom He has chosen. Keep your focus on Him, not yourself. Remember, we are not the ones in control \u2013 He is.<\/p>\n In God\u2019s service, for His glory,<\/strong><\/p>\nTruth to Learn<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Behind the Words<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Meaning Explained<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Application<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
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