What is the theme Les says he now understands more fully about God's dealings with Jews and Gentiles?
The theme is the mercy and grace of God. God dealt primarily with Israel from Abraham through Acts, yet He never forgot the Gentiles. Though Gentiles could not be dealt with until Christ went to the cross, His mercy and grace were promised through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and Gentiles are called to glorify God for that mercy.
Les explains that the overriding theme he now understands more fully is the mercy and grace of God in His dealings with Jews and Gentiles. He says he had not understood it as far back as he should have, but he certainly does now. God dealt primarily with the nation of Israel from Abraham until the Book of Acts, and when Israel rejected their Messiah and stoned Stephen, Israel went down through the cracks and Paul’s going to the Gentiles came in its place. Yet God never forgot the Gentiles. He could not deal with them until Christ went to the cross, but the promises made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob included that Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy. Isaiah also foretold the root of Jesse, in whom Gentiles would trust, which had not yet happened but is going to. Christ’s death poured out God’s wrath and mercy, so people no longer have to beg for mercy; it is already poured out and they appropriate it by faith.