Q&A – WHERE DID CAIN GET HIS WIFE? - 2

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Q&A – WHERE DID CAIN GET HIS WIFE? - 2

Genesis 4:16 And Cain went out from the presence of IAUE, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden.

17 And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch.

In the last post, we took a careful look at the language of the six days of creation in Genesis 1. We will now compare that with the language in chapter 2.

Genesis 2:4 These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created (Heb: bara), in the day that IAUE Elohim made the earth and the heavens,

Notice, throughout Genesis 1, IAUE is “creating” the heavens and the earth, the herbs and trees, the sea creatures, the fowls of the air, the beasts and living creatures upon the earth…and man.  Now we come to something quite different.

Genesis 2:7 And IAUE Elohim formed man/Adam of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man/Adam became a living soul.

In Genesis 1, IAUE created (bara) man (adam) in His image in both males and females; and gave them dominion over the works of His hands.  Here “adam” refers to man as a species.  In Genesis 2, however, we see a more specific use of the word “adam”. It changes from a general noun to a proper noun, to a name:  Adam.  Notice also, he “created” males and females on day 6; but here we see that he “formed” Adam.  This word “formed” (yatsar) means to fashion as a potter fashions clay. (I do not intend to be dogmatic about this. It is possible that we see in this verse the “manner” in which IAUE created man…by forming him as a potter forms a vessel of clay.  “Forming” Adam does not necessarily preclude His “creating” Adam on the sixth day. However, what we see of the making of Eve is not the same creative process that women were created on Day 6.)

Genesis 2:8 And IAUE Elohim planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man/Adam whom he had formed (yatsar).

9 And out of the ground made IAUE Elohim to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

Here we see IAUE planting a garden on what appears to be a timeframe after day 7; and making trees to grow; but we already saw that IAUE originally “created” such kind of trees to grow on day 3.

Genesis 2:15 And IAUE Elohim took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.

The men and women created on Day 6 were spread across the earth to begin multiplying and exercising dominion over the animal world.  Adam was commanded to dress and keep the garden.  That was not a mission to subdue the earth and have dominion over all of the sea and land and aviary life on the earth. No, THAT mission was given to the males and females that IAUE had “created” (not “formed”) on day 6. Adam very likely never saw a sea.  How could he subdue and have dominion over sea life if he was planted in a garden where there were only rivers?

Genesis 2:18 And IAUE Elohim said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.

On day 6. IAUE had “created” males and females; but in the Garden of Eden, He “formed” a man out of the dust of the earth.  We have no idea how long Adam lived alone before IAUE “made” a female companion for him. He started with the companionship of animals.

Genesis 2:19 And out of the ground IAUE Elohim formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.

To deal with Adam’s loneliness, “out of the ground,” IAUE “formed” every beast of the field and every fowl of the air and brought them to Adam; and yet we see that on day 6, IAUE had “created” every beast of the field.  We also note that on day 3, IAUE had “created” “out of the waters” every fowl of the air.  In Eden, however, the fowls were “formed” not “created” out of the ground, not out of the waters.

Genesis 2:20 And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him.

21 And IAUE Elohim caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;

22 And the rib, which IAUE Elohim had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.

23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man/Adam.

Notice it says that Eve was “made.”  It does not say she was created.  She was not even “formed,” and yet males and females were “created” on day 6. Eve was made after Adam had been placed in the garden; and after Adam named all of the animals.

The world was populated with many males and females on day 6; and they were charged with the responsibility to multiply and replenish the earth; and to subdue and exercise dominion over the sea, land and aviary life that IAUE had created on days 3 and 6.  Adam, however, was formed like a potter forms his clay; and he was not told to multiply and replenish the earth or to have dominion over the other living creatures on the earth.  He was commanded, instead, to till the garden that IAUE had made expressly for him.  IAUE later “made” a woman to be Adam’s help mate. The making of Eve clearly does not appear to have happened on the same day that Adam was made; so she could not have been a day 6 creation, even if Adam had been.

We have no idea how much time separated the creation of the men and women on day 6 from the time IAUE formed Adam and placed him in the Garden that IAUE planted just for him. It could have been done all on the same day; and it also could have been eons. There are some historical records from Mesopotamia that suggest it could have been tens of thousands of years. There are reports of civilizations whose kings reigned for tens of thousands of years at a time.

IAUE made Adam unique upon the earth separating him from all others who had also been made in the image and likeness of Elohim. We know that only Adam’s life began by receiving the breath of IAUE.  While the population outside of Eden was exercising dominion over the works of IAUE’s hands, Adam was tilling the earth and maintaining the garden; and he was having direct and personal fellowship with IAUE.  It is Adam’s bloodline that becomes the focus of the rest of Scripture.

In Genesis 3, we read the story of the fall of Adam and Eve and their banishment from the garden.

Genesis 3:23 Therefore the IAUE Elohim sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.

24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

Adam and Eve were removed from the garden that IAUE had planted just for them; but his command to them was still to be till the ground.  It is interesting to note that IAUE never told them to multiply and replenish the earth; but once outside of Eden and exposed to the Day 6 populations, one of the first things Adam and Eve do is to “know each other” and begin to bear children.

In Genesis 4, we see the story of Cain killing his brother Abel.

Genesis 4:11 And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand;

12 When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth.

13 And Cain said unto IAUE, My punishment is greater than I can bear.

14 Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me.

In these verses we see that IAUE, even after the fall of Adam and Eve, and even after the murder of Abel, He still speaks to Cain of tilling the ground.  We also see that being driven away from his family means Cain will also no longer be in the environment where his family still enjoys the presence of IAUE. Finally, in this passage, we see Cain’s concern about “every one” that he may come upon in his traveling the earth as a fugitive and vagabond.  Cain was the firstborn of Adam and Even.  We know of Abel being the second born; but we have no Scriptural record of Adam and Eve proliferating the earth dramatically enough to have produced a population that would be of concern to Cain.  No, the people who were his concern were the Day 6 men and women.

 Genesis 4:16 And Cain went out from the presence of IAUE, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden.

17 And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch.

Again, we see it reinforced here that by being driven away from his parents; Cain is also leaving the presence of IAUE. It is unfortunate that the passage says Cain dwelled in “the land of Nod.”  The word for “Nod” (nowd) means “wandering as a fugitive.”  The “land of Nod” does not refer to a specific location.  Cain was on the move.  He did not want to be found by anyone. It means the land where he wandered, attempting to flee the observation of others.  He met his wife while remaining transient.

I know that this understanding of Day 6 men and women as distinct from Adam and Eve being a specific bloodline that is differentiated from the Day 6 creation produces more questions; and possible conflicts with other verses in the Scripture; but if one recognizes that the discussion of Adam’s race as being the focus of the purposes of IAUE in the earth; those questions are easily resolved.

Q&A – WHERE DID CAIN GET HIS WIFE? - 1

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Q&A – WHERE DID CAIN GET HIS WIFE?

Genesis 4:16 And Cain went out from the presence of IAUE, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden.

17 And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch.

Have you ever noticed when a person is being confronted with the call to repent and believe the gospel how quickly they will ask a question to derail the conversation and take the focus away from their liability and responsibility before IAUE?  Questions like:  “If Elohim is an Elohim of love, why is there so much killing and poverty and war in the world?”  Or, “Do you believe the earth is only 6,000 years old or is it millions of years old?”  Or, “Do you believe that creation and evolution are compatible?”  Or, “Where did Cain get his wife?” Such questions usually are not sincere.  They are intended to be conundrums that you cannot answer resulting in you questioning your own faith and message; thus terminating any continued appeal to them to repent or to deal practically with the inescapable reality of a future eternal judgment they will face. 

The tendency is to want to provide them with a biblical answer to their questions so they, in turn, will find your gospel message to be credible.  In my opinion, you should never allow their questions to sidetrack you from presenting the truth of the gospel; because this will move you into an academic conversation of the intellect and introduce pride into the mix.  It will remove you from the spirit and power of the Word of IAUE that is able to save their soul. 

Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Messiah: for it is the power of IAUE unto salvation to every one that believeth…

If IAUE is drawing the person unto Himself, He will draw them and reveal His son in them.  If He isn’t, no amount of catering to their distracting questions will appease the person and make them open to the gospel.  We may sow; and we may water the seed that is sown; but it is IAUE alone who causes the increase (1 Corinthians 3:6-7).  In my personal experience (which is not by any means a litmus test that proves anything at all), I have never made headway with anyone who interrupts the gospel with distracting and unrelated questions. Their soul has not been marked with an awareness of the danger associated with their rebellious lives and their need for a redeemer.

The apostle Paul was pretty keen on instructing those whom he put in positions of leadership to steer clear of such questions.

1 Timothy 1:4  Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.

2 Timothy 2:23  But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.

Titus 3:9  But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.

Sometimes, however, there are nagging questions that persist in the mind of the believer that cause them to be curious about if not outright question the veracity of the Scriptures.  Such questions are important to resolve so one’s faith can remain unhindered.  I believe today’s question is one of them.

It is very likely that some readers will never have heard what I am about to suggest; so please bear with me and consider what the Scriptures say.

Where did Cain get his wife?  Our opening verses clearly suggest that he found her in the land of Nod.  That, however, is not really the point of the question, is it?  The real question is, where did she come from if Adam and Eve were the parents of all who lived upon the earth; and Cain was the firstborn of Adam and Eve?  Herein lies the dilemma; and the reason why this is one of those nagging questions.

The answer is---Adam and Eve were NOT the first humans to inhabit the earth. They were a very particular couple who were set apart from the rest of humanity.  Allow me to explain.

Genesis 1:9 And Elohim said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so.

10 And Elohim called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called the Seas: and Elohim saw that it was good.

11 And Elohim said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.

12 And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and Elohim saw that it was good.

13 And the evening and the morning were the third day.

Notice, on the 3^rd day of Creation, Elohim created the grass, the herbs and the fruit trees and they yielded their fruit.

Genesis 1: 20 And Elohim said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.

21 And Elohim created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and Elohim saw that it was good.

22 And Elohim blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth.

23 And the evening and the morning were the fifth day.

Notice, on the 5^th day, Elohim brought forth out of the waters, all of the sea creatures and all of the winged fowl (aviary life).

24 And Elohim said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.

25 And Elohim made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and Elohim saw that it was good.

IAUE brought forth from the earth all of the land-based animals and creatures (on the 6^th day).

26 And Elohim said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

27 So Elohim created man in his own image, in the image of Elohim created he him; male and female created he them.

28 And Elohim blessed them, and Elohim said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

29 And Elohim said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.

30 And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.

31 And Elohim saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

On the 6^th day, as we all know, IAUE created (Heb: bara) man; but notice carefully the language in these verses.  IAUE created man in his own image, both male and female.  He created THEM.  IAUE blessed THEM---the males and females that He had created. 

IAUE commanded THEM to be fruitful and multiply, to replenish the earth and to subdue the earth.  He gave THEM dominion over the fish, the fowl and every living thing on the earth.  The man (males and females), that IAUE created on day 6, were given the mission to subdue the earth and exercise dominion over all of its animal life.  He also gave them the herbs and trees bearing fruit (which He had made on day 3) for food.

Genesis 2:1 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.

2 And on the seventh day Elohim ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.

3 And Elohim blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which Elohim created and made.

At this point, you might be saying, “Everyone already knows all of this, so what’s new about this? How does this even remotely answer the question about where Cain’s wife came from?”

Carefully read Genesis chapter 2; and the answer to the question will become obvious.  We will provide that answer in our next post.

Q&A – WHAT IS THE MYSTERY OF THE GOSPEL? Part 7

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Q&A – WHAT IS THE MYSTERY OF THE GOSPEL?   Part 7

Romans 9:6 Not as though the word of Elohim hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:

7 Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.

In the past six posts we have explained the mystery of the gospel.  We have shown IAUE’s covenant promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; and we have shown how ten tribes of Israel were divorced by IAUE, making it seemingly impossible for IAUE to make good on His covenant promise. 

The apostle Paul explained (Romans 7) that the law of the marriage applied to the House of Israel (the lost ten tribes); that a divorced wife who remarried and was again divorced could not return to her original husband. He also explained that the law required the death of the first husband to free the divorced wife to be able to remarry without committing adultery.  The mystery revealed, however, showed that the wife, the House of Israel, died in Yahushua Messiah and is born again a new creature.  This new creature is a partaker of the covenants and promises of IAUE and is now espoused to Messiah Yahushua, IAUE’s son. The husband did not have to die. The wife died, rendering the law of the marriage irrelevant.

The coming of a Messiah was a promise to the Hebrew people.  He was to come and take the throne of David in Jerusalem with the Hebrews by His side and rule the world with a rod of iron.  This would be the manifestation of the Kingdom of Heaven; but it would be a united kingdom with all the children of Israel, not just the tribes of Judah and Benjamin.  The problem the Messiah faced, however, is that ten of the tribes of Jacob/Israel had said “What hope have we in David?” and they left their relationship with IAUE and with their brothers of Judah and Benjamin.  Consequently, Messiah’s coming had to be in two parts.  His first appearing was to put in place the mechanism for restoring the divorced House of Israel to the covenant of promise. His second coming would be to take his throne and rule.  His first coming was as the lamb of IAUE.  His second coming will be as the Lion of the tribe of Judah.  His first coming was as a prince who was killed by his own people.  He rose from the dead and became a priest (the High Priest after the order of Melchisedek).  His second coming will be as a King (the King of the Kingdom of Heaven).

We have seen that Messiah specifically stated that he came for the lost sheep of the House of Israel.  We also have seen that Paul’s ministry to the Gentiles was a deliberate pursuit of those lost sheep, much to the dissatisfaction of the Jews that could never forgive their brethren who departed from the covenants of IAUE to serve other gods.  We have also seen that in order for those lost sheep to be received by IAUE, the gospel message had to be broadcast to all the Gentiles regardless if they were or were not of Hebrew descent.  In a prior post, I referred to the Gentiles as the collateral “benefit” of the gospel to the lost sheep of the House of Israel; but is that really a correct identification?  It is time to examine the book of Romans to see what the scope of the gospel really is; and how does IAUE look upon the Gentiles who are not of Hebrew descent.

Romans 9:1 I say the truth in Messiah, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit,

2 That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.

3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Messiah for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:

4 Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of Elohim, and the promises;

5 Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Messiah came, who is over all, Elohim blessed for ever. Amen.

In this passage, Paul is grieving for his fellow Jews who have rejected Yahushua as their Messiah. Like Esau who sold his birthright for a bowl of stew, the Jews had forsaken their birthright when at the trial of Yahushua they said:

Matthew 27:25 Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.

The rejection of the Messiah by the Jews on his first appearing was prophesied. 

Romans 11:7 What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.

8 (According as it is written, Elohim hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.

9 And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them:

10 Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.

There was a reason for this blindness.

Romans 11:11  I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? Elohim forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.

25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

Their rejection of the gospel is what opened the door to preach the gospel to the Gentiles.

Acts 13:46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of Elohim should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.

Paul had received a revelation from IAUE that was an inseparable part of the mystery of the gospel.  Yahushua had not only come for the lost sheep of the House of Israel.  He had come for all of Adam’s race.  IAUE had indeed made a unique covenant with Abraham and his descendants according to the flesh, his natural bloodline; but that was NOT the children of Abraham that was the focus of the covenant.

Romans 9:6  It is not as though Elohim’s word had failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel. 

7 Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham’s children. On the contrary, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.”

8 In other words, it is not the children by physical descent who are Elohim’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham’s offspring. (NIV)

Long before there was a divided kingdom; long before IAUE divorced the House of Israel; long before Hosea had prophesied of the divorce of the House of Israel and of the promise of their restoration, IAUE told Moses:

Romans 9:15  For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.

With Hosea, the comment about receiving mercy applied only to the House of Israel.  With IAUE speaking to Moses, the comment applied to whomever He chose to show mercy and compassion.

Romans 4:9 Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.

Romans 9:31 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.

32 Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;

33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

Romans 4:11  And he (Abraham) received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:

12 And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.

13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

The promise to Abraham was not expressly to his children who are descended from him in the flesh; but to all who have like faith in believing IAUE.  Abraham is our father by our having a like precious faith; and if we are the children of Abraham by faith, we are heirs of the covenant and joint heirs with Yahushua Messiah.

Now, as pertaining to the children of Abraham in the flesh, his natural descendants by his bloodline, the Scriptures say:

Romans 9:27 Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved:

28 For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will IAUE make upon the earth.

29 And as Esaias said before, Except IAUE of Hosts had left us a seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha.

30 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.

31 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.

32 Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;

Romans 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:

27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.

28 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the father's sakes.

29 For the gifts and calling of Elohim are without repentance.

30 For as ye in times past have not believed Elohim, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:

31 Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.

32 For Elohim hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

Note, in verse 26, the focus of this verse is “all Israel” and “Jacob.”  These terms include the Jews.  You will recall that when the Scriptures prophesied of the “new covenant,” it was to be made with the House of Israel and the House of Judah;” but then the rest of the prophecy dealt exclusively with the House of Israel. It is as though the House of Judah would be an after-thought in the New Covenant.  Instead, it simply would not focus on the House of Judah until the fullness of the Gentiles had come in to the New Creation in Yahushua.  That would include the remnant of the lost sheep of the House of Israel as well as the pagan Gentiles of non-Hebrew descent.

Romans 11:1 I say then, Hath IAUE cast away his people? IAUE forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.

2 IAUE hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to IAUE against Israel saying,

3 IAUE, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.

4 But what saith the answer of IAUE unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.

5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

IAUE has always sought a people who would believe Him, believe His words,trust in His goodness and therefore do His commandments.  The natural descendants of Abraham were a stiff-necked and rebellious people; nevertheless, IAUE has appointed unto them a remnant in honor of His friend, Abraham.  IAUE’s children will ALL be children of the faith of Abraham whether or not they be of his natural lineage.

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to IAUE must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.