No — God never forgot about the Gentiles; in the Old Testament He was working through Israel with the Gentiles already in view.
Les Feldick teaches that even though God dealt primarily with Israel from Abraham until the Book of Acts, the Gentiles were always in God's mind. They were included in the promises connected with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, with the ultimate purpose that they might glorify God for His mercy. When Israel rejected the Messiah, God turned to the Gentiles with a gospel of pure grace.
Romans 3:29 — Paul's question directly answers the issue: God is not the God of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles.
Romans 15:8-9 — Shows that Christ's confirming the promises to the fathers included a distinct Gentile purpose—that they would glorify God for His mercy.
God never forgot the Gentiles. In Romans 3:29, Paul asks, "Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also." That truth stands even though the Old Testament primarily follows Israel. Paul also reminds Gentile believers that before the cross they were "aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world" (Ephesians 2:12). This describes their former condition, not God's absent-mindedness. Romans 15 reveals that the Old Testament promises to the fathers had Gentile blessing in view: "Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers: And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy" (Romans 15:8-9). Then, after Israel's rejection, Paul writes in Romans 11:11, "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."
Les Feldick repeatedly emphasizes that from the call of Abraham all the way into the Book of Acts, God dealt primarily with one nation—Israel. But he insists this never meant God had forgotten the Gentiles. The Gentiles were "in God's mind" all along; their problem was that they were strangers to the covenants of promise and, as pagan Gentiles, had no knowledge of the God of Abraham. Les explains that God was not unfair in choosing Israel first. God knew what the Gentiles would have done with His offer of salvation, so He set aside one nation and intended to bring it to the place where it could go back to the Gentiles. Every Jew was supposed to be a priest who would bring the nations to a knowledge of Jehovah. Because Israel missed that calling and finally rejected the Messiah, God raised up one Jew—Saul of Tarsus—and sent him far hence to the Gentiles. The result was a gospel of pure grace—free, without works or ritual, and simply to be believed. Gentile believers are not Jews, but they are resting on the root of Abraham, feasting on what God promised to him. In all of this, Les says, God never removed Israel completely; their fall opened heaven's door for the Gentiles.
Les explains that from the call of Abraham until well into Acts, God dealt primarily with the nation of Israel. This was not because He had forgotten the Gentile nations around them. God knew what those Gentiles would have done with His offer of salvation, so He chose to work with one small nation and bring it to the place where it could minister to the Gentiles. Even that favored nation failed, and so God went to the Gentiles without the nation of Israel. The whole process had its seed in the Old Testament promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—promises of a nation, a land, and a coming Messiah.
In the Old Testament, the promise was that every Jew could be a priest of God to bring the Gentiles to a knowledge of their Jehovah God. But Israel missed it. Did that stop God? No. Instead of using the whole nation, God raised up one Jew—Saul of Tarsus—and saved him by grace on the road to Damascus. The first thing God let him know was, "I'm going to send you far hence to the Gentiles." He would go to Jews too, but he was primarily the apostle for the Gentiles.
Paul told Gentile believers that before their conversion they were "aliens from the commonwealth of Israel" and "strangers from the covenants of promise," without hope and without God (Ephesians 2:12). Les sums it up this way: the pagan Gentiles around Israel were without hope, lost, and strangers to the commonwealth of Israel. Yet God still held them responsible, because every human being has within him the knowledge that there is a Creator God. This was not a sign that God had forgotten them; it was their position before the gospel of grace changed everything.
After Israel rejected her King, Messiah, and Redeemer, God turned to the Gentiles with a program of grace—a salvation free for nothing, without work, religion, ritual, or priesthood, and merely to be believed. Paul declares that "but now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ" (Ephesians 2:13). Les says the Jew and the Gentile are now on a level playing field; the Jew has no advantage over the Gentile. As Paul writes, God is not the God of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles. All of this had its seed in the Old Testament promises.
The Seed in the Old Testament Promises
Les shows that God's Gentile purposes go back to the Abrahamic Covenant—God promised Abraham a nation, a land, and the coming Messiah, and this was the seedbed for what later happened with the Gentiles.
God Is the God of the Gentiles Also
Les points to Paul's question "Is he not also the God of the Gentiles?" and explains that though the Old Testament did not make this the main concept, the Gentiles were always in God's mind and are now on a level playing field with the Jew.
Why God Chose Israel First
Les explains God was not unfair in choosing Israel: He knew what the Gentiles would do with His offer of salvation, so He set aside one nation to reach them later.
Gentiles Without Hope but Still Responsible
Les describes the Old Testament condition of the pagan Gentiles as strangers and lost, yet God still held them responsible because every human knows there is a Creator God.
Israel's Missed Calling and Saul's Gentile Commission
Les shows that Israel was meant to bring the Gentiles to God, and when the nation missed that calling, God commissioned Saul of Tarsus as the apostle to the Gentiles.
Gentiles Feasting on Abraham's Root
Les says Gentile believers today are not Jews but are resting on the root of Abraham, feasting off the promises God made to him; the Gospel has given them the same opportunity for salvation as Israel.
Gentiles Made Nigh by the Blood
Les explains that God is not dealing only with the Jew; on the basis of the cross, Gentiles who were far off and steeped in paganism are now made nigh by the blood of Christ.
Through Israel's Fall, Grace Goes to the Gentiles
Les says it was through Israel's fall and rejection of the Messiah that God sent to the Gentiles a Gospel of pure grace—free, without works or ritual, and simply to be believed.
Romans 3:29: Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:
Paul's question establishes that God never belonged to Jews only; Gentiles are included too.
Ephesians 2:12: That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
Describes the actual former condition of Gentiles—aliens and without hope—showing they were not being dealt with directly then, but not forgotten.
Ephesians 2:13: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
Shows the change for Gentiles at the cross: those who were far off are now brought near.
Romans 15:8-9: Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers: And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name.
Shows the promises to the fathers included a purpose for the Gentiles—that they would glorify God for mercy.
Romans 11:11: 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.
Les cites this to show that Israel's fall opened the gospel to the Gentiles and that Israel was not completely removed.
John 1:11: He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
Les quotes this to explain why Christ's earthly ministry was to Israel first, and why Israel's rejection opened the door to the Gentiles.
No. God was working through Israel with the Gentiles already in view. The promises made to the fathers included the eventual glorifying of God by the Gentiles, and when Israel failed, God took the gospel of grace directly to the Gentile world.
Les says God knew what the Gentiles would have done with His offer of salvation, so He set apart one small nation and intended to use it to reach those Gentiles. Even that favored nation failed, and God then went to the Gentiles without Israel as His instrument.
Scripture describes them as aliens from Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, without hope and without God. Yet God still held them responsible because every human being knows there is a Creator God. Their hopelessness was a position that the cross would change.
Les explains that God is not dealing only with the Jew. On the basis of the finished work of the cross, Gentiles who were far off and steeped in paganism are made nigh by the blood of Christ. This is part of the grace gospel sent to the Gentiles after Israel's fall.
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