What did God do to Israel after they rejected the Messiah, and where are they now?
God did not cast Israel away completely. He dispersed the nation, removed its temple and country, yet preserved His covenant people. Through their stumble, salvation went to the Gentiles. Today Israel is back in the land, waiting for the time they can have their temple again.
Les explains that Israel's stumble did not mean God was finished with them. Paul asks whether they stumbled that they should fall, and the answer is, God forbid. God dispersed them, took away their temple, and took away their country, but He is not through with His covenant people. Through their fall, salvation came to the Gentiles, but under a different format. In the Old Testament, every Jew could be a priest to bring Gentiles to Jehovah, but they missed it. God then raised up Saul of Tarsus, saved him by grace on the road to Damascus, and sent him far hence to the Gentiles. Israel is now back in the land, waiting for the day when they can have their temple once again.
I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.
More Questions
Did Israel fall permanently out of God's plan when they rejected the Messiah?
Israel did not stumble so as to fall completely out of God's program; God has only set them aside for a period of time — Paul's answer in verse 11 is 'God forbid.'
Has God finished dealing with Israel as a nation?
God's national dealing with Israel on the basis of a nation of people, which began when He brought them out of Egypt, has ended; He has blinded them nationally, but individually they can still come in.
Did Israel fall out of God's program permanently?
Israel's stumble does not mean they have fallen out of God's program or are completely removed from their God; God has simply set them aside for a period of time.