No, God is not finished with the nation of Israel.
Les Feldick teaches that although Israel has been set aside and blinded for roughly the last 1,900-plus years, God has not cast them away. They remain His covenant people, and He will yet come back to finish His dealings with them and fulfill the covenant promises made in the Old Testament.
Romans 11:1 — Paul's rhetorical question 'Hath God cast away his people?' sets up the answer that God has not rejected Israel.
Romans 11:26 — Declares that 'all Israel shall be saved,' pointing to a future restoration of the nation.
Romans 11 opens with Paul asking, 'I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid.' The Greek phrase translated 'God forbid' means 'by no means' — a strong denial. This sets the tone for the chapter, which deals with Israel's place in God's plan. The chapter explains that Israel has not been permanently cast aside. Paul uses the figure of an olive tree to show that Israel's branches were broken off and the Gentiles were grafted in, but this is not a final rejection. Romans 11:26 declares, 'And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob.' This points to a future salvation of the nation of Israel. The Old Testament prophets — from Deuteronomy and Ezekiel to Zechariah — foretold that God would one day fulfill His covenant promises to His chosen people.
Les Feldick teaches that God has by no means finished with the nation of Israel. He points out that 90% of Christendom believes God is through with the Jew because they crucified their Messiah, but Scripture says otherwise. Israel has been set aside for roughly the last 1,900-plus years — without a temple, priesthood, sacrifice, or homeland until recent generations — and the Jewish people are presently in a state of spiritual national blindness and unbelief. Yet they remain God's covenant people, and He has not lost track of them. Les explains that Romans 9, 10, and 11 are the three chapters dealing with Israel: chapter 9 looks back at Israel's past and draws from the Old Testament; chapter 10 deals with how God treats Israel today (a Jew must approach God the same way as a Gentile — there is no difference); and chapter 11 looks ahead to Israel's future, when God will return and finish His dealings with them. Les emphasizes that through Israel's fall, salvation has come to the Gentiles, but this does not mean God has canceled Israel out of His program. Les also points to the modern return of the Jewish people to their homeland as evidence that God is still preparing Israel for what's next. They are coming back from every nation, though they still have a long way to go before the realities of their King and kingdom are realized. God's covenant promises to Israel are yet going to be fulfilled, but that cannot happen until God is through dealing with the Gentile church.
Les Feldick points to Romans 11:1 where Paul asks, 'Hath God cast away his people?' and answers with 'God forbid.' Les notes that 90% of Christendom would say yes, but God is not through with the Jew. He has set them aside and blinded them, but He is still going to come back and finish His dealing with His covenant people. The Old Testament prophets like Ezekiel, Deuteronomy, and Zechariah all foretold this day.
Les explains that these three chapters in the middle of Romans deal specifically with the nation of Israel. Romans 9 looks back at Israel's past, with Paul drawing from the Old Testament because Israel's dilemma was prophesied. Romans 10 deals with how God treats Israel today — there is no difference between Jew and Gentile in how they must approach God. Romans 11 deals with Israel's future, showing that God is not through with them and their covenant promises will yet be fulfilled, though not until God is through dealing with the Gentile church.
Les teaches that Israel has been set aside for the last 1,900-plus years. They've been without a temple, without a priesthood, without a sacrifice, and without a homeland until the current generation. They have been broken off from the root of Abraham, substituted by Gentiledom, and are out there in spiritual national blindness and unbelief. Even so, God keeps a remnant of Jews who can be saved, and a few are being saved today. God hasn't lost track of them — He knows where every one of them is.
Les points to Romans 11:26 where 'all Israel shall be saved' as the future promise. Israel has been blinded and broken off, but God is not through with them. He is going to come back and finish His dealing with them, fulfilling the covenant promises made in the Old Testament. Les also sees the present-day return of the Jewish people to their homeland as preparation for this future — they are coming back from every nation under heaven, though they still have a long way to go before the realities of their King and kingdom.
Jacob Becomes Israel — What Romans 9 Says About True Faith
Today I am joined by Les Feldick, and he will talk to you about the Bible Truths that Change People's Lives. Les, welcome! Les Feldick, the host, is a man of great wisdom. Les Feldick, Lecture 6 The Bible Truths that Change People's Lives Les Feldick, Lecture 6 The Bible Truths that Change People's Lives Our weather isn't quite as friendly as it could be, so I know our numbers are down, but we're …
God Not Through With Israel
Les teaches that God is not through with Israel — they've been set aside for 1,900-plus years without temple, priesthood, or homeland, but remain God's covenant people.
Israel Is Still Covenant People
Les refutes the common view that God is finished with the Jew, and insists the little nation of Israel is still connected to the Bible and is still God's covenant people.
God Has Not Cast Away His People
Les explains Romans 11:1 — God has not cast away Israel despite Christendom's claims; He has set them aside and blinded them, but will come back to finish His dealing with them.
Romans 9-11: Israel's Past, Present, Future
Les outlines Romans 9 as Israel's past, 10 as how God treats Israel today, and 11 as Israel's future — where God's covenant promises to Israel will be fulfilled.
God Hasn't Lost Track of Israel
Les teaches that though Israel has been blinded for 1,900-plus years, God knows where every Jew is, and they are coming back to their homeland in this generation.
Israel Still in God's Program
Les emphasizes that God has not cast aside Israel — they are still in His program, set aside but with a remnant being saved, and God will return to finish His dealing with them.
Israel Stumbled, Not Canceled
Les reads Romans 11:11 to show Israel has not stumbled that they should fall permanently — God forbid — but rather through their fall salvation has come to the Gentiles.
Romans 11:1: I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
Paul's foundational question and emphatic denial that God has rejected His people Israel.
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.
Shows Israel's fall was not final — through it salvation came to the Gentiles.
Romans 11:26: And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob.
The ultimate promise that the nation of Israel will be saved in the future.
No, God is not finished with the Jewish people. Romans 11:1 says 'God forbid' to the idea that He has cast away His people. Les Feldick teaches that Israel has been set aside and blinded for a time, but they remain God's covenant people and He will yet fulfill His promises to them.
Les Feldick teaches that Israel was broken off because they rejected and crucified their Messiah. But their fall was not final — through their fall, salvation came to the Gentiles. God has turned to the Gentiles for the present but will come back to Israel when the fullness of the Gentiles is complete.
Les Feldick points to Romans 11:26 as Israel's future — a day when God will come back and finish His dealings with the nation. All Israel shall be saved, fulfilling the covenant promises made in the Old Testament.
Watch the Teaching: Jacob Becomes Israel — What Romans 9 Says About True Faith