What is Paul referring to in Romans 9 about the children of Israel?
Paul refers to a division within the covenant people: although God's word went out to the whole nation, only a believing remnant responded. Not all the children of Israel would be spiritual; many remained natural and destitute of faith, while a few became believers.
Les explains that Jacob marks the beginning of the dividing line even within Israel, the covenant people of God. Some remain natural and destitute of faith, while some become spiritual believers. He points to Isaiah 9:8, where the LORD sent a word into Jacob and it lighted upon Israel, showing that God's word went to the whole nation of Israel. They all heard it, but only the believing element, the Israel, truly responded. It was always a small remnant, and still is today. The vast masses can hear and understand the Gospel, but few believe it. Coming back to Romans 9, Les says this is exactly what Paul refers to: not all the children of Israel would be spiritual, only a few.