What opportunity did Israel reject that led to their fall?
Israel rejected the opportunity to receive the King, the kingdom, their Messiah, and redemption. Because they refused that offer, they fell from preeminence as the covenant-favored nation, and through their fall salvation came to the Gentiles, provoking Israel to jealousy.
Les teaches from Paul’s words to the Gentile church at Rome that God deals with the Jew on two different levels, nationally and individually. Paul asks whether Israel stumbled so as to fall out of God’s sight, and the answer is “God forbid.” Rather, through their fall, Israel had every opportunity to have the King, the kingdom, their Messiah, and redemption, but they rejected it. Through that rejection, salvation came to us Gentiles. God opened the windows of grace to the Gentiles because Israel rejected it and fell from the place of preeminence as the covenant-favored nation. This salvation to Gentiles was to provoke the Jew to jealousy, since jealousy and envy are basically the same.
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.
More Questions
What opportunity did Israel have but reject?
Israel had every opportunity to have the king, the kingdom, their Messiah, and redemption, but they rejected it.