Provoking God

The arousing of God's righteous anger in response to the sin of his people, particularly their idolatry.

God is provoked by sin and disobedience

Deuteronomy 9:7–8 See also Numbers 32:9–13; Deuteronomy 31:29; Joshua 7:1; 2 Samuel 6:6–7 parallel 1 Chronicles 13:9–10 Uzzah's disobedience in touching the ark cost him his life; 2 Samuel 24:1; 1 Kings 15:30, 1 Kings 16:2–3, 1 Kings 16:7, 1 Kings 21:21–22; 2 Kings 21:14–15; Isaiah 65:1–5; Jeremiah 32:30–33

Remember this, and never forget how you provoked the LORD your God in the wilderness. From the day you left the land of Egypt until you reached this place, you have been rebelling against the LORD. At Horeb you provoked the LORD, and He was angry enough to destroy you.

God is provoked by the rejection of his chosen leaders and prophets

2 Chronicles 36:15–16 See also Numbers 12:1, Numbers 12:9

Again and again the LORD, the God of their fathers, sent word to His people through His messengers because He had compassion on them and on His dwelling place. But they mocked the messengers of God, despising His words and scoffing at His prophets, until the wrath of the LORD against His people was stirred up beyond remedy.

God is provoked by injustice

Exodus 22:22–24 See also Isaiah 59:15–18; Ezekiel 8:17; Hosea 12:14

You must not mistreat any widow or orphan. If you do mistreat them, and they cry out to Me in distress, I will surely hear their cry. My anger will be kindled, and I will kill you with the sword; then your wives will become widows and your children will be fatherless.

God is provoked by complaining

Numbers 11:1 See also Exodus 4:10–14; Numbers 11:4–10, Numbers 11:33

Soon the people began to complain about their hardship in the hearing of the LORD, and when He heard them, His anger was kindled, and fire from the LORD blazed among them and consumed the outskirts of the camp.

God is provoked by idolatry

Deuteronomy 4:25–26; Ezekiel 16:26 See also Deuteronomy 9:16–19; Judges 2:12–13, Judges 3:5–8; 1 Kings 14:9, 1 Kings 14:15, 1 Kings 16:13, 1 Kings 16:26, 1 Kings 16:33, 1 Kings 22:53; 2 Kings 17:11, 2 Kings 22:17, 2 Kings 23:25–27; 2 Chronicles 28:25; Psalm 78:58–59, Psalm 106:28–29; Jeremiah 7:17–19, Jeremiah 8:19, Jeremiah 25:6–7, Jeremiah 44:3, Jeremiah 44:8; Ezekiel 20:28

After you have children and grandchildren and you have been in the land a long time, if you then act corruptly and make an idol of any form— doing evil in the sight of the LORD your God and provoking Him to anger— I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you this day that you will quickly perish from the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess. You will not live long upon it, but will be utterly destroyed.

You prostituted yourself with your lustful neighbors, the Egyptians, and increased your promiscuity to provoke Me to anger.

God is provoked by human sacrifice

2 Kings 17:17, 2 Kings 21:6 parallel 2 Chronicles 33:6