It's Provoking!

The dictionary says the word "provoke" has four meanings; 1.) To incite to anger or resentment; vex; irk: 2.) To stir to action or feeling, 3.) To give rise to; evoke: [provoke laughter] 4.) To bring about deliberately; induce: [provoke a fight]. Synonyms include; incite, excite, stimulate, arouse, rouse, elicit, evoke, kindle, enkindle, fire, raise, create, make, and stir. Provoke is a verb; provocation noun, provocative adjective, provocatively adverb.

We need to consider what the Bible says. There is a negative side to provoke and God identifies it clearly. This kind of provoking has serious consequences - in families... "And ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath; but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." (Ephesians 6:4) and in God's people... The children of Israel provoked God to wrath continually. "How oft did they provoke Him in the wilderness, and grieve Him in the desert! Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel." (Psalm 78:40-41) For further reference, see, Numbers 14:11,23; 16:20; Deuteronomy 31:20; 32:21; Psalm 78:56; 106:33; Isaiah 65:3; Jeremiah 44:8; & Zechariah 8:14. In the New Testament church we still find this potential for provoking God... "Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than God?" (I Corinthians 10:22) and we are warned about repeating Israel's folly. See Ephesians 4:30; Hebrews 3:15-19.

But provoke also has a positive side. The Bible says...
"And let us consider on another to provoke unto love and to good works: not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another; and so much the more as ye see the day approaching." (Hebrews 10:24-25)

"For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many. (II Corninthians 9:2)

"I say then, Have they [the Jews] stumbled that they should fall? God forbid! but rather, through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy... If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are of my flesh, [the Jews] and might save some of them. ...blindness in part is happened unto Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in." (Romans 11:11, 14, 25b)

In each of these instances, provoking is a good thing. Something good, something wonderful, something that reveals the hand of God is at work in salvation's plan, in history, in the hearts of His chosen people, to the end that He will bring both Jews and Gentiles into reconciliation and right relationship with Him throughout eternity. It's God's Plan for the Ages!

We Gentiles received the Truth in part because of the Jews faithfulness in recording the Word of God throughout their generations. We found mercy through their unbelief! Now, they, in turn, through our mercy and faithfulness are also going to obtain mercy. No wonder our message is - "Be ye reconciled to God."

Let us be about the business of provoking... of inciting... inviting... enlightening... ambassadors for Christ, and of the increase of His Kingdom, may there be no end!

"O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out... For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things: to Whom be glory for ever. Amen." (Romans 11:33, 36)