Skip to content

Add your phone number?

Optional. Nothing is sent unless you choose it.
The Historic Faith
Sign in
All Questions
Question 6
When the opponent insists, “Israel did not know,” Paul answers with Moses’ jealousy prophecy (Deut 32:21) being fulfilled “in front of their very eyes”; what does this say about God’s purposes in provoking jealousy, and how should Christians process the idea that God may use outsiders’ faithfulness to expose insiders’ hardness?
Another way to ask: What might God be trying to do by using outsiders to make insiders jealous? How should Christians react to the idea that outsiders’ faith can expose insiders’ hard hearts?

Direct Answer The transcript suggests God’s purpose in provoking jealousy is to make Israel recognize what they are seeing: Gentiles receiving honor and promises, which should have alerted Israel to God’s work and removed their excuses. Christians should therefore accept that God may use the faith of “outsiders” as a mirror, exposing hardened resistance among those who assume they are insiders.

Support from Transcript:

  • The opponent’s excuse: “Israel did not know…Israel should be excused because they did not know.”
  • Paul answers: “First, Moses says, ‘I will provoke you to jealousy by those who are not a nation.’”
  • Bercot: “Moses’ prophecy was being fulfilled in front of their very eyes. So the Jews were without excuse.”
  • Chrysostom summarizes the excuses (“heard but did not understand…ignorance”) and Paul’s repeated refusal: “By no means.”
  • They “should have understood…from the very fact that they were seeing their inferiors…people from the Gentiles, being held in greater honor than themselves.”
Discussion Follow-ups What kinds of “jealousy” might God use today—seeing new believers love Scripture, repent quickly, or endure suffering? How can long-time churchgoers respond with humility instead of resentment?

Jumpstarter 6 of 10
Back Questions Next