Why does Paul say Israel would have been like Sodom and Gomorrah in Romans 9:29?
Paul cites Isaiah to show that if the Lord of Sabaoth had not left Israel a remnant, the nation would have been destroyed like Sodom and Gomorrah. Because of their constant unbelief, God would have had to judge them completely, but the faithful remnant caused Him to spare the nation.
Les teaches that Romans 9:29 quotes Isaiah: “Except the Lord of Sabaoth,” or Jehovah Adonai, “had left us a seed, we had been as Sodom, and we’d been made like unto Gomorrah.” The reference is to the remnant. Had it not been for the remnant every time, God would have had to destroy the nation of Israel like He did Sodom. Even though Israel was constantly turning back in unbelief, especially at Kadesh Barnea, when they could have gone into the land of promise but turned back into the wilderness, there has always been that remnant of true believers. The same way at the end of the age, there will be that remnant of Israel that will cause God to spare the nation.
And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha.
Except the LORD of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah.