Why did some of the nation of Israel never experience spiritual enlightenment even though they were under the covenants?
Scripture divides humanity and Israel into two groups: the natural/lost and the spiritual/saved. Those Israelites who never experienced spiritual enlightenment remained in the natural category, not among the saved. Being under the covenants did not automatically change their spiritual state; like the lost of all ages, they needed salvation rather than mere covenant association.
Les explains that from the beginning of human history there have always been primarily two groups: the lost, by far the greatest number, and the believers, the saved of the ages. He says it is no different today: people are either saved or unsaved, regardless of race, wealth, or social status. Applying this to Israel, Les teaches that the nation's history is divided into the same two categories. A portion of Israel remains natural and never has spiritual enlightenment even though they are under the covenants. They are like Jacob in his natural state before becoming Israel, or like people before salvation; covenant connection did not make them spiritual.