How did salvation come to the Gentiles?
Paul writes that through Israel's fall, salvation has come to the Gentiles. Israel rejected the King, kingdom, Messiah, and redemption, so God opened the windows of grace to Gentiles, provoking Israel to jealousy. Their rejection became the occasion for Gentile salvation, not Gentile merit.
Les teaches that God deals with the Jew on two different levels, nationally and individually. Paul writes to the Gentile church at Rome that Israel did not stumble so as to be utterly cast away; God forbid. Rather, through their fall, salvation has come to the Gentiles. Israel had every opportunity to have the king, the kingdom, their Messiah, and redemption, but they rejected it. As a result of that rejection, God opened the windows of grace to the Gentiles. Israel fell from the place of preeminence as the covenant-favored nation, and salvation came to the Gentiles to provoke the Jews to jealousy. Les notes that jealousy and envy are essentially the same, and it was working. He then directs attention back to Acts chapter 13.
I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.