Why did Israel miss their Messiah when he came?
Israel missed their Messiah because they were ignorant of who He really was. They expected a king arriving in pomp, power, and circumstance, but He came riding a lowly donkey. Consequently, Paul says Israel did not obtain what they sought; the nation was blinded, though a believing remnant obtained it.
Les explains that God placed a spiritual blindness on the nation of Israel, though an individual Jew can still have his eyes opened and believe. Israel expected a king to come in pomp, power, and circumstance, perhaps on a great white Arabian steed; instead their king came riding on a lowly donkey, so they missed Him and said, "This our king? No way!" They were ignorant of who He really was. Paul says Israel did not obtain what they sought, but the election—the few Jews who believed—obtained it, and the rest were blinded, which is Israel's condition to this very day.