I find it to be very interesting that everything you convey makes perfect sense, as if we have been led down the same study path . . . perhaps by the same God? Wouldn't that be a novel idea for a place like this? haha
So, I do have another issue that has always bothered me. Check out the staggering difference between the Jews being able to comprehend and understand in Chapter 10, yet in Chapter 11, Paul teaches that all of Israel was in a Spiritual "deep sleep," quoting Isaiah. Here are the Scripts:
Romans 10:16-19 NLT - 16 But not everyone welcomes the Good News, for Isaiah the prophet said, "LORD, who has believed our message?" 17 So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ. 18 But I ask, have the people of Israel actually heard the message? Yes, they have: "The message has gone throughout the earth, and the words to all the world." 19 But I ask, did the people of Israel really understand? Yes, they did, for even in the time of Moses, God said, "I will rouse your jealousy through people who are not even a nation. I will provoke your anger through the foolish Gentiles."
Romans 11:7-8 NLT - 7 So this is the situation: Most of the people of Israel have not found the favor of God they are looking for so earnestly. A few have--the ones God has chosen--but the hearts of the rest were hardened. 8 As the Scriptures say, "God has put them into a deep sleep. To this day he has shut their eyes so they do not see, and closed their ears so they do not hear."
Now, what I see all throughout Scripture is Israel's inability to understand and obey, except in specific situations, such as with Moses lifting the Veil so the Light of God would shine upon the Jews. And of course, when the Light of God shines upon a person, Understanding and obedience to that understanding is Enabled and Empowered by the Spirit. However, what I [do not] see is Israel showing any indication that they understand. Even Solomon became involved with child sacrifice, burning children alive. Solomon! The wisest man to have ever lived, involved himself with burning children alive. Solomon may have been wise, but I am not as confident that I will see him in Heaven as I will the Apostle Paul.
You're right. The Remnant has always been a narrow, thin Vine that traversed throughout the region. This low-lying organism was maintained by the Power of God. Incredibly, this narrow Vine escaped death as it faced Goliath, for example. This narrow Vine escaped the horror of Israel and Judah, particularly during the days when they were forewarned that one parent would murder their own child, gut it, clean it, cook it, eat it, hide the remainder of flesh for later consumption, and then when the family asked, "Hey. Where's little Jimmy?"
This Vine even survived Israelite days when rooms in the Temple of God were used for male prostitution. It is inconceivable what the Vine of Christ. And because of the Davidic Covenant, it all makes the Story of God the single most shocking, staggering, Miraculous Story ever conceived.
Whew. Had to ramble, I guess.