The Holy Scriptures tell us of two ways of provoking or being provoked:having a provoked spirit and provoking one another unto love and to good works.

We may learn from what is recorded of Moses how displeasing a provoked spirit is to the Lord. Moses was the meekest man on earth, and when Israel had turned to idolatry and the Lord was prepared to destroy them and raise up of Moses a people for His name, Moses made that lovely plea for them, "If Thou wilt forgive their sin; and if not, blot me, I pray Thee, out of Thy book" (Exod. 32:32).

Yet when the Lord’s people were about to enter the promised land, the crowning glory of Moses’ life_to lead them into that land_was denied him. He could not enter the promised land because on one occasion he was provoked in spirit and spoke unadvisedly with his lips (Psa. 106:33). He called them "rebels." God will not allow any charge against His people.

When Balak hired Balaam to curse Israel, the false prophet had to acknowledge, "How shall I curse whom God hath not cursed? . . . He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath He seen perverseness in Israel" (Num. 23:8,21).

As with Israel then, so it is with the Lord’s people today. "Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? It is God who justifieth. Who is he that condemneth?" (Rom. 8:33,34).

There will never be a provoked spirit while the love of God constrains us, for love suffers long and is kind, is not easily provoked (1 Cor. 13:4,5). If our spirit is not provoked, we are free to provoke in a much more positive, profitable way:"Let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works" (Heb. 10:24). How shall we provoke unto love? By loving, for love begets love; and doing good works encourages others to do the same.