Miscellanies 2.9.43

That is why it was said to them through Moses: “I will make you jealous by those who are not a nation; by a senseless nation I will provoke you to anger,” that is, by the nation that has become ready for obedience. And through Isaiah he says: “I was found by those who did not seek me; I became manifest to those who did not ask for me,” clearly before the Lord's coming; after which those prophesied words are now fittingly said to Israel too: “I stretched out my hands all day long to a disobedient and contrary people.” Do you see that the cause of the calling from the Gentiles is clearly said by the prophet to be the disobedience and contrariness of the people? Then the goodness of God is shown even toward them; for the apostle says: “But by their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make them jealous” and wish to repent. And the Shepherd, using the expression simply of those who had fallen asleep, knows that some among the Gentiles and among the Jews were righteous, not only before the Lord's coming but even before the law, by being well pleasing to God, like Abel, like Noah, like any other righteous person.