Why did God come down so hard on Israel in their unbelief?
God came down hard on Israel because they were uniquely entrusted with His Word, the oracles, for centuries and had every opportunity to know His will, yet they ignored and refused to believe it. Their unbelief was rebellion against the revelation they possessed.
Les explains that Israel had every opportunity to know the will of God and had all the things going for them. In Romans 3:1-2, Paul writes that the Jew’s advantage was much every way, chiefly because unto them were committed the oracles, or the Word of God. Les says God came down hard on Israel in their unbelief because they had the Word of God, they had it for centuries, and yet they ignored it and refused to believe it. He also connects this with the judicial principle seen in verse 26 and Romans chapter 11: a sovereign God judicially says that if a people want to live at a lower level, then they go down one level lower.
Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.
What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.