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Isaiah 1

This is what is written in Isaiah 1:4, ÒAlas, sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a brood of evildoers, children who are corrupters! They have forsaken the LORD, They have provoked to anger the Holy One of < ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>Israel, they have turned backward.Ó The Lord was provoked to anger. He is a living God that can be provoked to anger. If God can be provoked to anger by His children, surely He can also be provoked to being calm with His children. What would you want to see from God? Would anyone prefer His anger to His calmness? Without any doubt, when GodÕs calmness is in place, being in His rest will reign. Once in the journey of the children of Israel from bondage to the promise land, Moses needed direction in the way, Exodus 33:13-14, ÒNow therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight. And consider that this nation is Your people.Ó 14 And He said, ÒMy Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.Ó The point here is that the presence of God generates rest. When He is provoked by virtue of one doing what is good in His sight, having His rest will be activated and His rest is His presence. GodÕs presence will give and lead in the right direction. Do you think of provoking His hands for good? Isaiah prescribed what it takes to provoke Him for good, Isaiah 1:16-17, ÒWash yourselves, make yourselves clean; put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes. Cease to do evil, 17 Learn to do good; seek justice, rebuke the oppressor: defend the fatherless, plead for the widow.Ó It is always good to be on GodÕs side. There is no need in provoking Him unto anger. God cannot be deceived and no man can hide from Him. Above all, in as much that He will not overlook sin so He will not overlook that which is right. Encourage yourself in the Lord today. Let all of your way be of positive provocation of the hands of God in your favor.