What happened when Israel rejected Jesus? Why did God turn to the Gentiles?
When Israel refused and rejected Him, God set them aside temporarily and turned to the Gentiles in grace. Gentiles once far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ, the finished work of the cross, not by Law or covenants, as Ephesians 2 declares.
Les explains from Ephesians 2 that Israel's refusal and rejection caused God to set them aside temporarily, turning to the Gentiles in grace. The Gentiles who were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ, not by the Law or the covenants. Les also uses Jonah as a type: Jonah had to experience death, burial, and resurrection, then he could go to the Gentiles, and Nineveh repented. Likewise, Jesus said the Son of Man would be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights. Until He experienced death, burial, and resurrection, He could not be the object of faith for the mass of the Gentile world. But He has. Paul does not leave us hopeless; the little word “but” is important, and in Christ Jesus Gentiles are made nigh by the blood of the cross. Les points out this is why the Jew was under covenant promises while the Gentile had no part, but when Israel refused it, God turned to the Gentile in grace, contrasting Law and Grace.