God has not cast away his people whom he knew beforehand. Do you not know what the scripture says of Elijah? How he makes intercession to God against Israel, saying,
And he 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 those who believe, though they are not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed to them also:
Does this blessedness then come upon the circumcision only, or also upon the uncircumcision? For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness.
For the scripture says to Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.