Why do so few believe the Gospel even when they hear and understand it?
Only those enlightened by faith truly respond to the Gospel. Though God's Word goes out to the whole nation and many hear and understand it, the vast majority remain destitute of faith. Scripture indicates the believing element has always been a small remnant, and not all Israel is spiritual—only a few.
Les teaches that Jacob marks the beginning of a dividing line even within Israel, the covenant people of God. Some remain natural and destitute of faith, while some become spiritual and believe. He points to Isaiah 9:8, where the word of the LORD is sent into Jacob and lights upon Israel. The whole nation heard the prophetic word, but only the believing element—the Israel within Israel—responded. That believing element was always a small remnant, and it still is today. The vast masses of humanity can hear the Gospel, even understand it, yet percentage-wise very few believe. Les says this has always been the pattern, including within the nation of Israel itself. Romans 9 makes the same point: not all the children of Israel would be spiritual, only a few.