Deuteronomy 32 - Steve Wiggins Daily Devotional

“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 G_d? Most people cheat because they’re looking for someone better. After courting G_d, there’s nowhere to go but down! Not only that; G_d is jealous for His “bride”.

In today’s chapter, the L_rd 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”. **See also, the book of the prophet Hosea.

In the short term, G_d provoked Israel to jealousy when He eventually showed favor to Babylon, empowering them to drive Israel from the land. In a Messianic sense, G_d has showed His grace and love upon the Gentiles, through Yeshua. Yeshua’s 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 L_rd. 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 G_d of the Gentiles. In essence, “If you want to follow the religions of the Gentiles, then I will cause them to worship Me…so, even following the Gentiles will lead you back to Me.” But Israel was supposed to lead the Gentiles to G_d! And that is what Messiah, a Jew, did.

“I the L_rd 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 out 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 (Yeshua) may reach to the ends of the earth.” Isaiah 49:6

Blessings,
~Steve Wiggins
Daily Devotional, Monday, July 14, 2014