How does Paul's ministry to the Gentiles parallel the Old Testament's dealing with Israel?
In the Old Testament, God dealt only with the Jew, while a few Gentiles picked up the gleanings. In Paul's ministry the emphasis reverses: he goes primarily to the Gentiles, but a few Jews come into the Body of Christ. The parallel is a primary audience with a remnant from the other group.
Les explains the parallel by contrasting God's dealings: in the Old Testament, God was dealing only with the Jew, but a few Gentiles picked up some of the gleanings. The same pattern appears with Saul of Tarsus, now Paul, who is going primarily to the Gentiles, yet a few Jews come into the Body of Christ. Les also points out that Paul did not immediately confer with flesh and blood, as one might expect him to return to Jerusalem to consult Peter, James, and John.