Deuteronomy 32
Deuteronomy 32
"They aroused My jealousy with a non-god and provoked Me with their
vanities; I will arouse their jealousy with a non-people and enrage
them with a foolish nation." Deuteronomy 32: 21
These days, it's unusual to find committed relationships. Over half
the marriages end in divorce, and the talk shows & tabloids are filled
with rumors of infidelity. But can you imagine, cheating on God?
Most people cheat because they're looking for someone better. After
courting God, there's nowhere to go but down! Not only that; God is
jealous for His "bride".
In today's chapter, the Lord turns the tables on Israel. He tells
them, that instead of them making Him jealous by forsaking Him for
other gods, He will make them jealous and enrage them because of His
relationship with another people: a "non-people".
In the short term, God provoked Israel to jealousy when He showed
favor to Babylon, empowering them to drive Israel from the land. In a
messianic sense, God has showed His grace and love upon the Gentiles,
through Jesus. Jesus' atonement is irrespective of nationality, and
Paul's conversion of Gentiles accomplished at least two purposes: 1)
It provoked Israel to jealousy, prompting the return of many to the
Lord. 2) It parlayed Israel's transgression into an opportunity to
redeem the nations.
"I ask, then, have they (the Jews) stumbled so as to fall? Absolutely
not! On the contrary, by their stumbling, salvation has come to the
Gentiles to make Israel Jealous. Now, if their stumbling brings
riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how
much more will their full number bring? Now I am speaking to you
Gentiles. In view of the fact that I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I
magnify my ministry, if I can somehow make my own people jealous and
save some of them." Romans 11: 11-14
If Israel would forsake Adonai for the "false gods" of the Gentiles,
perhaps they would forsake those false gods in favor of Adonai when He
became the God of the Gentiles.
"I the Lord have called You into righteousness, and will hold Your
hand, and will keep You, and give You for a covenant of the people,
for a light of the Gentiles; To open the blind eyes, to bring our the
prisoners from the prison, and those that sit in darkness out from the
prison house." Isaiah 42: 6
"It is too little, He says, for You to be my servant, to raise up the
tribes of Jacob, and restore the survivors of Israel; I will make You
a light to the nations, that My salvation may reach to the ends of the
earth." Isaiah 49: 6
Blessings.
Steve Wiggins
