Deuteronomy 32:21Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Moses prophesied that our worship surpasses that of the Jews, stating: ‘And I will vex’ you “not of the Gentile, but of the Gentile I will provoke you to anger.” By using the phrase ‘not of the heathen,’ he indicated the previously degraded state of the Gentile nations, who were disregarded due to their disdain, ignorance, and folly. However, faith has transformed the Gentiles, elevating them to a status far greater than that of the Jews, who held a place of honor. This revelation indicates that the Jews will feel this intensely, and it will lead to their improvement; for the prophet did not merely state ‘I will prefer,’ but also showed that their correction would arise from envious irritation.

What is the significance of the statement, 'I will not incite you against the pagans, but I will stimulate you against the foolish tongue'? Those who place their faith in Christ the Savior form not a single nation but countless nations. Once, they acted without understanding and were foolish, as the Apostle Paul notes: at one time we too were foolish, disobedient, and misled, enslaved by various passions and pleasures (Titus 3:3). Consequently, God declares: 'Just as you, by rejecting a single God, chose to follow many false deities, so I, turning away from one nation, will extend salvation to all nations. However, by honoring that which is not divine, you have not transformed them into deities; yet I will impart divine wisdom to the unwise nations, which will result in your jealousy' (see also Rom. 10:19).

Moses also declares in Deuteronomy that the nations will be prioritized, while the disobedient will be relegated to the end. He further states, ‘You have provoked Me not with the true God but have distressed Me with your empty idols; thus, I will provoke you with a nation—not a wise one—will I bring upon you distress.’ They abandoned the God of truth and worshipped non-existent deities, leading to the death of God's prophets and speaking in the name of Baal, the idol of the Canaanites. They scorned the Son of God, who embodies truth, opting instead for the thief Barabbas, who was guilty of murder, and they rejected the eternal Sovereign while acknowledging a fleeting Caesar as their ruler.

They have caused Me distress - their anger towards Me stems not from God, but rather from the worship of their idols. Moses observes, ‘While I was still alive among them, favored by the Savior with gifts and grace in their sight, the Lord God declared to me, “This is a great multitude, steeped in idolatry,” - how will they behave once I am gone?’ (Deuteronomy 31:27). ‘I will not trouble them with a people, but I will bring affliction upon them through a foolish nation.’ (This is Moses foretelling their future subjugation to foreign powers).