The nation of Israel is spiritually blind because it rejected its Messiah, and God, in response to that unbelief, darkened the nation's eyes.
Les teaches that when Jesus presented Himself as Israel's King, the nation should have known who He was, because the Old Testament had made it 'plain as day' — but Israel refused to search the Scriptures. Because the majority rejected and crucified the Messiah, the Book says 'the rest were blinded,' and God made sure of it by putting a spiritual blindness upon the nation. This blindness is national rather than individual: the election obtained what Israel sought, while individual Jews today still have every opportunity to believe the Gospel.
Romans 11:7 — Paul states plainly that Israel did not obtain what it sought — the election did — and that the rest were blinded; this is the direct scriptural statement of the blindness.
Romans 11:8 — Confirms that God Himself gave Israel a spirit of slumber so that their eyes would not see and their ears would not hear.
Paul addresses Israel's condition directly in Romans 11: 'What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded' (Romans 11:7). He then cites Scripture itself: 'God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear' (Romans 11:8), and 'Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway' (Romans 11:10). The Old Testament shows the information about the coming King was available to Israel. Micah 5:2 told them He would come forth from Bethlehem, and Zechariah 9:9 told them their King would come 'lowly, and riding upon an ass.' Isaiah 66:8 also speaks of a day when 'a nation shall be born at once.'
Les Feldick teaches that Israel's spiritual blindness had a cause: the nation's rejection of the Messiah. When Jesus presented Himself as Israel's King, the nation should have known who He was — the Old Testament made it 'plain as day' — but Israel was unbelieving and refused to search the Scriptures. Even the priests, when Herod asked where the King was to be born, had to go and dig up the book of Micah instead of knowing it off the top of their heads (Clip 2). The nation's expectation also contributed: every Jew was longing for the King, the Messiah, the Redeemer, but they expected a king coming in pomp on a great white stallion, not a lowly king on a donkey. The majority rejected and crucified Him because He did not fit their expectation (Clips 3, 6). Les emphasizes that in their unbelief, God 'just made sure they really wouldn't believe' by putting a spiritual blindness upon the nation (Clip 4). Crucially, Les distinguishes national and individual levels: nationally, Israel is blinded and has been for about 1,900 years, but an individual Jew today has every opportunity to believe the Gospel and be saved just like any Gentile (Clips 1, 4, 7). This blindness is not forever — one day the nation will see the truth of its Messiah, and as Isaiah says, a nation will be born in a day (Clip 1). Les even sees the man born blind in John 9 as a picture of the nation of Israel, which never enjoyed all the promises and was blind from birth (Clip 5).
Les Feldick says yes — the information was in the Old Testament 'plain as day.' When Jesus presented Himself as the King of Israel, the nation should have known who He was. But Israel did not know, Les explains, because they were unbelieving and 'refused to search the Scriptures.' He points to the wise men's visit: when Herod asked the priests where the King of Israel was to be born, they did not know; they had to look through the Old Testament and find it in the book of Micah. According to Les, they should have been able to tell Herod right off the top of their heads, along with all the other things attendant with His coming.
Les says every Jew was longing for 'the King, the Messiah, the Redeemer.' Yet when the King came, He did not match their expectations. As Les puts it, 'no king comes in on a donkey, he should be coming in on a great white stallion.' Because Jesus came lowly, fulfilling the prophet's picture of a king 'riding upon an ass,' the majority rejected Him and crucified Him. A few recognized Him — these became the elect — 'but the rest have been blinded.'
Les draws a clear distinction: God deals with the Jew on two levels, national and individual. Nationally, Israel is blinded, and that blindness has lasted to this very day. But this does not mean every individual Jew is without hope. In the age of grace, Les teaches, an individual Jew can open his eyes and spiritual heart, believe the Gospel, and be saved 'the same as any Gentile.' The nation will remain blind until the end of the tribulation, when a remnant of the nation will be saved at the return of the Messiah.
No, says Les Feldick. While Elimas the sorcerer in Acts 13 is a prophetic picture of the nation opposing the gospel at every turn, the blindness is only 'for a season.' One day the nation of Israel will see the truth of their Messiah, and as Isaiah says, 'a nation will be born in a day.' Until that day, Les explains, the nation is blind to spiritual truth, especially concerning their Messiah the Christ.
Ignorance Is a Lack of Teaching
Les defines biblical ignorance as a lack of being taught, not a lack of brain power — the same principle underlies why Israel did not know what it could have known from the Old Testament.
Nation Blinded by Rejection, Will See One Day
A Jew can be saved today if he opens his eyes and spiritual heart, but the nation as a whole was blinded because of its rejection of the Messiah — and the blindness is not forever, because a nation will be born in a day.
Israel Should Have Known
Jesus presented Himself as King of Israel and the Old Testament made it plain, but Israel didn't know because they were unbelieving and refused to search the Scriptures — even the priests had to look up Micah to find where the King would be born.
The Rest Were Blinded
A few Jews recognized Jesus and became the elect, but the majority rejected Him, and the rest were blinded — 'the Book says it,' not Les.
God Put the Blindness Upon the Nation
In their unbelief, God made sure the nation really wouldn't believe by putting a spiritual blindness upon them; nationally they are blinded, but an individual Jew today has every opportunity to believe the Gospel.
The Man Born Blind Pictures the Nation
Les teaches the man blind from birth in John 9 is a picture of Israel — a nation blind from birth that never enjoyed all the promises like it will when the Messiah rules.
A King on a Donkey
Israel expected a king on a great white stallion; when Jesus came lowly on a donkey, the majority rejected and crucified Him, while the election obtained salvation and the rest were blinded.
Spiritual Blindness to This Very Day
Israel has spent about 1,900 years in spiritual blindness lasting to this day; even when they seem religious in practicing Old Testament Judaism, they are blind to spiritual truth, especially concerning the Messiah.
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.
The short answer to why the nation is spiritually blind: Israel did not obtain it, but the election did; the rest were blinded.
Romans 11:8: (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.
Paul confirms the blindness was not accidental — God gave them a spirit of slumber so they could not see or hear.
Romans 11:10: Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.
This is the verse Les quotes when he says God 'let their eyes be darkened' in response to Israel's unbelief.
Micah 5:2: But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
The prophecy the priests found when Herod asked where Israel's King was to be born — showing the knowledge was available.
Zechariah 9:9: Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.
Describes the King coming lowly and riding on an ass — the very way Jesus came, which Israel rejected.
Isaiah 66:8: Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.
The promise Les cites that a nation will be born in a day, indicating Israel's blindness is not permanent.
Yes, says Les Feldick. The Old Testament revealed it 'plain as day,' and when Jesus presented Himself as Israel's King, the nation should have known. But Israel was unbelieving and 'refused to search the Scriptures'; even the priests had to look up Micah when Herod asked where the King was to be born. Ignorance, Les explains, is simply a lack of being taught — not a lack of brain power.
No. Les teaches that God deals with the Jew on two levels: national and individual. Nationally, Israel is blinded, but an individual Jew today has every opportunity to open his spiritual heart, believe the Gospel, and be saved 'the same as any Gentile.' The blindness does not mean an individual Jew has no chance.
Every Jew was longing for the King, the Messiah, the Redeemer. But their expectation was a king 'coming in on a great white stallion,' not the lowly King who came riding on a donkey. Because Jesus did not fit their expectation of power and pomp, the majority rejected and crucified Him; a few recognized Him, and those became the elect.
No. Les points out that Elimas the sorcerer — a prophetic picture of the nation opposing the gospel — was blinded only 'for a season.' One day the nation of Israel will see the truth of their Messiah, and as Isaiah says, a nation will be born in a day. Until then they wait for the Messiah's return at the end of the tribulation.
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