No—Israel's rejection of Jesus did not mean God was finished with them.
In Romans 11:11, Paul asks if Israel stumbled that they should fall—so that God would cancel them out of His program—and answers 'God forbid.' Les Feldick emphasizes that through Israel's rejection of the Messiah, salvation came to the Gentiles, but God never washed His hands of His covenant people. Israel was dispersed and set aside, yet remains the nation God has promised to restore.
Romans 11:11 — Paul directly asks whether Israel's stumble meant they should fall and answers 'God forbid,' showing their rejection did not mean God was done with them.
Romans 11:7 — It shows that Israel as a whole missed what it sought, but a believing election obtained it and the rest were blinded.
1 Timothy 1:15 — Les uses this verse to show the further revelation that Christ came to save sinners after Israel rejected His kingship.
Paul addresses this exact question in Romans 11. In verse 7 he writes, 'What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.' Israel as a nation missed the King and the Kingdom it sought, yet a believing remnant within Israel obtained it. Then in verse 11 Paul asks, 'I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall?' and immediately answers, 'God forbid.' He explains that through Israel's fall, salvation came to the Gentiles. The Scripture explicitly rejects the idea that Israel's stumble was a final fall.
Les Feldick takes Romans 11 as the clearest answer to the question. He says Paul is asking whether the nation of Israel has stumbled so badly—by rejecting and crucifying their Messiah—that God would cancel them out of His Old Testament program and be all through with the Jew. Paul's answer, Les stresses, is 'God forbid' or 'banish the thought.' Israel had every opportunity to have the King and Kingdom, but they missed it. Les also points out that God deals with Israel on two levels, nationally and individually: the election obtained what Israel sought, while the rest were blinded. He emphasizes that although God has set Israel aside—taking away their temple and scattering them—Israel is still God's covenant people, now back in the land and waiting for the temple. God has not given up on them; He promised from the beginning that He would yet bring them back and fulfill His promises to their forefathers. Even in the early chapters of Acts, Les notes, God was not immediately done with Israel—Peter kept pleading with the nation to believe that the crucified Jesus was their risen King.
Paul's question was whether Israel had stumbled so completely that they would fall—that is, be canceled out of God's Old Testament program. Les explains that Paul's answer, 'God forbid' (or 'banish the thought'), means God was not finished with the Jew. The very next clause explains that through their fall salvation came to the Gentiles.
Les says that granted, God has set Israel aside for now. He dispersed them, took away their temple, and removed their country. But Jesus' rejection did not end their covenant status. Les shows that Israel is back in the land and waiting for the day when they can have their temple again, and God has promised to fulfill all the covenants He made with their forefathers.
Some people assume that as soon as Israel crucified Christ, God was through with them and turned to the Gentiles. Les corrects that by pointing to the early chapters of Acts: Peter is still pleading with the nation of Israel, telling them that the One they killed was the One they should have accepted as their king, and that God was ready to send Him back if they would believe.
Jesus Came First as King
Les contrasts Jesus' offer of the Kingdom with Paul's later statement that Christ came to save sinners—an extension, not a contradiction, showing God's purposes continued after Israel's rejection.
Romans 11:11 — 'God Forbid'
Les reads Romans 11:11 as the direct answer: Israel's stumble did not mean they should fall, and through their fall salvation came to the Gentiles.
God's Covenant People Set Aside, Not Abandoned
Les says God dispersed Israel and took their temple and land, but they are still His covenant people, now back in the land waiting for the temple.
Israel Rejected the King and Kingdom
Les stresses that Israel had every opportunity to have the King, Kingdom, Messiah, and redemption, but they rejected it—yet God's answer remains 'God forbid.'
Israel's Suffering and God's Faithfulness
Les shows that Israel's suffering through dispersion and the holocaust was because they rejected the promises, but God promised from day one He would not give up on them.
The Election Obtained It, the Rest Were Blinded
Les explains Romans 11:7: Israel did not obtain the King and Kingdom it sought, but the believing election did; the rest missed it.
God Continued Pleading With Israel After the Crucifixion
Les corrects the assumption that God turned to the Gentiles immediately; in Acts, Peter was still pleading with Israel to accept the crucified Jesus as their risen King.
Israel Is Still God's Covenant People
Les says the little nation of Israel is still God's covenant people, even though He has set them aside for now, and they remain connected to the Bible.
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.
This is the key verse where Paul denounces the idea that Israel's stumble meant final fall.
Romans 11:7: What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.
Paul explains that Israel as a whole missed the promise, but the elect believed.
1 Timothy 1:15: This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
Paul's later revelation that Christ came to save sinners builds on Israel's rejection of His kingship.
Paul was asking whether Israel had failed so completely that God would cancel them out of His Old Testament program. Les says the answer is 'God forbid'—God was not all through with the Jew. Through their fall, salvation came to the Gentiles.
Yes. Les says the little nation of Israel is still God's covenant people even though He has set them aside for now. They are back in the land and waiting for the day when they can have their temple again.
Israel had every opportunity to have the King and Kingdom, but rejected it. Through their fall and rejection, the door of salvation opened to the Gentile world under a whole different format—not temple worship or keeping the Law, but Christ dying for sin.
Watch the Teaching: Why Jesus Came to Israel First — Luke 1 Explained