What Then?

“What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened, as it is written, “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that would not see and ears that would not hear, down to this very day.” And David says, “Let their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution for them; let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see, and bend their backs forever.”” -Romans 11:7–10

Using the rhetorical question as a means of setting up the opportunity to answer, Paul brings together everything he has been saying in neatly wrapped bundle. In doing so, he identifies three groups of people: Israel the nation, the elect, and the rest. Israel the nation failed to obtain what it was seeking (righteousness according the works of the law Cf. Romans 9:30–10:4). The elect (the remnant chosen by grace Cf. Romans 11:5) obtained the righteousness of God. And, the rest (of Israel) were hardened like Pharoah was hardened (cf. 9:17-18). 

He follows up his neat summary with Scripture from the Law (Deuteronomy 29:4), the Prophets (Isaiah 29:10), and the Writings (Psalm 69:22-23) to back his conclusion. In sum, Israel had resisted God so long, and crucified their Messiah that he sent, he ultimately allowed them to have their way. He hardened them by removing his graciousness from them and gave them up to their own futile and darkened minds. 

Said another way, because Israel closed her eyes to the truth of God’s revelation (the Incarnation), he blinded her. Because she stiffened her back against God (and crucified their Messiah), God fused her spine so she could not bend. God’s judgment on Israel is such that even her table (the symbol of God’s graciousness and goodness in terms of sustenance, satisfaction, and safety) has become an obstacle to their salvation.