But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you.
But wait, are we saying Israel didn't know this was coming? Moses literally warned them: 'I'm going to make you jealous by blessing people who weren't even considered a real nation, and I'll frustrate you by using people you think are foolish.'
God warned Israel way back that he'd bless the outsiders to get their attention.
📚 Historical Context
In the context of Paul's letter to the Romans, he is addressing the mystery of Israel's rejection of the Gospel despite their privileged covenant relationship with God. Paul quotes from Deuteronomy 32:21, where Moses prophesies that God will provoke Israel to jealousy by extending blessings to a people who were not originally His own, specifically the Gentiles, as a form of discipline for Israel's unfaithfulness. This reflects the broader biblical narrative of God's inclusive plan for salvation, showing how Old Testament prophecies pointed to the inclusion of all nations.
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