How did the Gentiles react to the Jewish opposition to their salvation?
They first embraced the Gospel with joy, but when Jewish opposition to their salvation arose, the Gentiles responded in turn by beginning to hate the Jews. This sad cycle revealed human nature working contrary to God's will, even though they were initially thrilled by the Gospel.
Les explains that the Gentiles had a spiritual hunger Israel could not comprehend and almost swarmed to the Gospel. When Paul preached and the Jews rejected the message, he turned to pagan Gentiles, who embraced it and were thrilled. The Jews hated the Gentiles for infringing on their God and became the chief opponents of Christianity. Then, as the Jews became the chief opponents of Gentiles being saved, the Gentiles in time began to hate the Jews. Les illustrates this with high school kids who break up and date others to provoke jealousy, showing how God turned to the Gentiles to provoke Israel to jealousy. He points to verse 11, which says that through Israel's fall salvation came to the Gentiles to provoke them to jealousy. Les says God intended this so Israel would get jealous and wake up, saying, 'They're taking my place, I better wake up and get back to where I belong.' This demonstrates human nature going contrary to the will of God.
More Questions
How did the Gentiles eventually react to the Jews who opposed their salvation?
Once the Jew became the chief opponent of Gentiles being saved, in time the Gentiles in turn began to hate the Jews, showing how human nature goes contrary to the will of God.