Has God cast away His people Israel?
No. God has not cast away His people Israel. Though He has set them aside and blinded them in unbelief for a time, He will return to finish His dealing with His covenant people and fulfill the Old Testament covenant promises. Paul confirms this, calling himself an Israelite of Abraham's seed and the tribe of Benjamin.
Les teaches that the answer is emphatically no. He notes that much of Christendom would say God is finished with the Jew, arguing they crucified their Messiah; many Catholic and Protestant people have even called Jews “Christ killers” and persecuted them. But Les stresses that God is not through with the Jew. God has set them aside and blinded them, yet chapter 11 shows He will come back and finish His dealing with His covenant people, just as the Old Testament foretold—Ezekiel 37, Deuteronomy 29, Zechariah, and others. For now they are in blindness and unbelief, but “God hath not cast away His people.” Paul proves this by saying he is an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. Les also notes Paul repeats that tribal identification in Philippians 3, and he wonders why the Holy Spirit emphasized Benjamin, since Christ came from Judah and tribal background is not usually stressed.
I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying,
More Questions
Why do many in Christendom believe God has cast away Israel?
Much of Christendom (about 90%, including many Catholics and Protestants through the centuries) holds that God has cast away His people Israel and is finished with the Jew because they crucified their Messiah, even calling them 'Christ killers' and persecuting them.
What do most Christians say when asked if God has cast away Israel?
Much of Christendom—about 90%—answers Paul's question 'has God cast away His people?' with yes, believing God is all through with the Jews because they crucified their Messiah.