Friday, 30 January 2026

Romans part 144 - One in Messiah 33

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Romans 10:19 But I say, did Israel not understand? First Moses says, "I will provoke you to jealousy by those who are not a nation, with a nation empty of understanding I will vex you."

So what if "Israel did not understand;" does that make God a liar? Romans 3:3-4a So what if some did not trust? Will their lack of faith nullify God's faithfulness? May it never be! Let God be true even if every man is a liar. God is not a liar, man is.

But Paul is asking a question, "Did Israel not understand?" His point is (and the reason he's asking the question is) that Israel did understand, being provoked to jealousy by a people who were not a people. Paul is quoting from ... Deuteronomy 32:21 They made Me jealous with a non-god. They vexed Me with airy idols. So I will make them jealous with a non-people. With a foolish nation I will vex them.

Rabbi Trail Deuteronomy is Moses' summation of the teachings of Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers. Deuteronomy chapter 32 is Moses' summation of his summation. Here, in verse 21, Moses is prophesying how a people (those from all over the world), who were not a people, will become a people capable of provoking Israel to jealousy. How does that happen? When the believers in Yeshua take the things of God (which used to be exclusively Jewish) and enjoy them more than Israel themselves do. It is about relationship, relationship with God through Yeshua. Paul will build on this in the next chapter, but for now, let's not get ahead of ourselves. End RT.

What does it mean that Israel will be vexed? The Greek word is parorgizo meaning "to become angry from close-beside." The same word is used in Ephesians 6:4 when parents are admonished not to provoke their children to anger. We (in Messianic Judaism) tend to be overly cautious not to offend Jewish people. Many Messianic Jewish congregations devote themselves to doing what they define as "normative Jewish." They barely mention Yeshua at all (so as not to offend) and make the environment "seeker friendly."

I want to answer. If Jewish people want "synagogue as usual" then they should find one. A Messianic Jewish congregation should BE a provocation to get Jewish people beyond their comfort zone and into the arms of Yeshua. He's waiting for this. Shalom shalom.