What does Romans 11:7 mean that Israel did not obtain what they sought but the election obtained it?
It means national Israel was blinded because they expected a conquering king with pomp and power, not the lowly Messiah on a donkey. The election—the few Jews who believed—obtained what Israel sought, while the rest remained blinded to Jesus' true identity.
Les explains that Paul is admonishing the believers at Rome not to be ignorant that God has dropped a spiritual blindness on the nation of Israel. This blindness is national, not necessarily individual, because an individual Jew can still have his eyes opened and believe, but nationally they are blinded. In Romans 11:7, Israel was looking for a king who would come with pomp and power and circumstance, perhaps symbolically riding a great white Arabian steed. Instead, their King came riding on a lowly donkey, and they missed it. They were ignorant of who He really was. Paul therefore says Israel did not obtain that which they were looking for, but the election—those few Jews who did believe—got it. They obtained it, and the rest were blinded. Les says that is the nation of Israel to this very day; they are still blind to who Jesus really was.
What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.
More Questions
What does Romans 11:7 say about Israel and the election?
In Romans 11:7, Paul says Israel as a whole did not obtain what they were seeking, but the election—the few Jews who believed—obtained it, and the rest were blinded.
What was Israel seeking but did not obtain according to Romans 11:7?
Israel did not obtain what it was seeking; what Israel sought was the King and the Kingdom.
Who are 'the election' in Romans 11:7?
The 'election' in Romans 11:7 refers to those who believed and accepted the Gospel.
What does Romans 11:7 say Israel sought but did not obtain?
Paul in Romans 11:7 confirms that Israel did not obtain what it sought—the king and the kingdom—which it was looking for throughout the Old Testament.