Romans 11:7

What then? that which Israel seeketh for, that he obtained not; but the election obtained it, and the rest were hardened: "What then" -'How are we to describe the present situation, if not in the painful language of verse 1?' (Gr. Ex. N.T. p. 677) 'Since God did not push Israel away (verse 1), what is true?' (Robertson p. 393)

"that which Israel seeketh for" -i.e. righteousness,. right relationship with God. (Romans 9:31)

"Seeketh for" -In Paul's day the nation of Israel was 'still seeking' (present tense). (Acts 26:6) And sadly, many physical Jews are 'still seeking' promises that they think that God has never yet fulfilled!

"obtained not" -chapter Romans 9:32 reveals why. They thought that God's favor had to be earned or merited, or that it was linked with ancestry.

"obtained" -originally to hit the mark; hence to fall in with, light upon, attain. (Vincent p. 123)

"it" -i.e. what Israel was 'seeking'.

Point to Note:

'Did anyone get what Israel as. whole sought for? Yes! Then let's not hear any more about Israel's promises not having been fulfilled. Someone did get what Israel as. whole sought for. The remnant (believing Jews..and Gentiles) obtained it. Someone back then did obtain something! What did they obtain? They obtained what Israel was seeking for. Now, once more. Whatever Israel sought for, the remnant got. Tell me what the remnant got and I'll tell you what the promise to Israel was. THEY DIDN'T GET. PIECE OF PROPERTY IN PALESTINE AND VICTORY OVER THE ROMAN MILITARY MACHINE BY MILITARY MEANS. They got the Messiah and all that goes with him.'

We cannot lose sight of the truth presented here. The Premillennialists assert that God gave to the Jewish nation an 'unconditional' promise of having the 'land' forever. And that the 'land' promise in the Bible to the Jewish nation has never been truly fulfilled. Well, someone did get what God promised to the Jews! AND IT WASN'T. PIECE OF LAND!

"and the rest were hardened" -the 'rest', i.e. those Jews that refused to accept where God had placed salvation and on what terms. (Acts 13:45; Acts 17:5)

"hardened" -'have become callous' (Wey); 'were made blind to the truth' (NEB) 4456. poroo po-ro'-o; apparently from poros (a kind of stone); to petrify, i.e. (figuratively) to indurate (render stupid or callous): -blind, harden.

Points to Note:

A. God doesn't harden believers. The remnant wasn't blinded to the truth, because they choose to obey it!

B. People become 'hardened' against the truth, due to their own unbelief and stubbornness. (See: Matthew 13:15 'and they have closed their eyes'; 2 Thessalonians 2:10). Just like Pharaoh! Note: Pharaoh wasn't blinded to what God was requiring of him, Pharaoh fully understood what God was commanding him through Moses, Pharaoh simply refused to obey!

'Jesus did not offer the Jews (many of them) what they wanted; they, therefore, turned. deaf ear to this teaching. They did not see in him anything they desired.' (Whiteside p. 227)