Wednesday: A Jealous God?
Daily Lesson for Wednesday 22nd of January 2025
The God of the Bible is the “compassionate God.” In Hebrew, God is called el raḥum (Deuteronomy 4:31). The term “el” means “God,” and raḥum is a different form of the root for compassion (raḥum). Yet, God is called not only the compassionate God but also the jealous God, el qana’. As Deuteronomy 4:24 puts it, “ ‘The Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God [el qana’].’ ” (See Deuteronomy 4:24, Deuteronomy 6:15, Joshua 24:19, Nahum 1:2.)
1 Corinthians 13:4 declares that “love is not jealous” (RSV). How could it be, then, that God is a “jealous God”? Read 2 Corinthians 11:2 and consider the way God’s people were unfaithful to Him throughout the narratives of the Bible (see, for example, Psalms 78:58). What light do these passages shed on understanding divine “jealousy”?
Image © Phil McKay at Goodsalt.com
The “jealousy” of God is often misunderstood. If you refer to someone as a jealous husband or wife, you likely do not mean it as a compliment. The term jealousy often has negative connotations in many languages. However, in the Bible, divine jealousy has no negative connotations. It is the righteous passion of a loving husband for an exclusive relationship with his wife.
While there is a kind of jealousy that is against love (1 Corinthians 13:4), according to 2 Corinthians 11:2, there is a good and righteous “jealousy.” Paul refers to it as “godly jealousy” (2 Corinthians 11:2). God’s jealousy is only and always the righteous kind and may better be spoken of as God’s passionate love for His people.
God’s passion (qana’) for His people stems from His profound love for them. God desires an exclusive relationship with His people; He alone is to be their God. Yet, God is often depicted as a scorned lover, whose love is unrequited (see Hosea 1:1-11; Hosea 2:1-23; Hosea 3:1-5, Jeremiah 2:2, Jeremiah 3:1-12). Thus, God’s “jealousy” or “passion” is never unprovoked but always responsive to the infidelity and evil people. God’s jealousy (or “passionate love”) lacks the negative connotations of human jealousy. It is never envious but always the proper righteous passion for an exclusive relationship with His people and for their good.
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How can we learn to reflect that same kind of good “jealousy” toward others that God displays toward us? |
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When bird photographers get together, we often experience lens envy or jealousy, especially when someone turns up with a Canon R1 and an 800mm telephoto lens. That is nearly $30,000 worth of glass and metal. I know I could never afford that. One of my friends, who owns such gear, asked me if I would like to hold the camera. Of course, I accepted admittedly with some trepidation. My jealousy evaporated; it was very heavy. I would have needed a wheelbarrow to carry it around. I could never hold it for long periods waiting for birds to do something interesting.
We most often use "jealousy" to describe the emotion of wanting something we do not have. Typically it leads to covetousness and that is sin. Clearly when God is described as "jealous" in the Bible it means something quite different. Obviously God owns everything so his jealousy does not fit that definition.
The English language with its long etymology is part of the problem. Word use changes over time. The word jealousy has another less egocentric meaning that describes God quite well. I like this description:
It is useful to review the second commandment with this meaning for jealosy in our minds.
God's jealousy is interesting. I tend to think that God is jealousy of three things;
1.His Deity
2. His Sovereignty
3. His Glory. We learn from Scripture that there is such a thing as godly jealousy.Apostle declaring to the Corinthian Church, "I am jealous over you with godly jealousy, for i have espoused you to one husband that i may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ". He had an earnest, cautious, anxious concern for that holiness that the Lord Jesus might be honored in their lives(the Corinthians). Our God is the Creator of heaven and earth and thus He cannot endure that any creature of His own hands should be thrust into His own throne and be made to wear His Crown.That is why while giving the Ten Commandments, He declared;1. Thou shall worship no other god. 2. Thou shall not make unto thee any graven image or any likeness.......God has long-suffering toward humanity, and patiently endures this madness of rebellion, oh until when? He can restrain the fury of His jealousy for He is a jealous God and brooks no rival. There must be a distinction between a negative jealousy to be avoided and God's positive jealousy towards our salvation.
Viewed through the lens of human jealousy, which is associated with sin, it sounds ironic that Deuteronomy 4:24 states that God is jealous. This appears to be contrary to the holy nature of God. However, when understood correctly from a biblical context, this is not contrary to God’s holiness but a reflection of his righteous character. Therefore, what does the “jealousy” of God mean? What does this say about God? What warning if any can we deduce from this “irony”?
God’s “jealousy” is fundamentally different from human’s which is associated with envy and selfishness. On the other hand, God’s “jealousy” is a deep holy passion to protect his people from sin. God displays protective love (holy passion) for those whom He loves. Secondly, God has a holy name (nature) to protect (Isaiah 42:8). He will not allow his created beings to malign his character. Thirdly, glory, honour, and worship belong to the Creator God. Hence God’s nature will not allow idolatry ((Exodus 20:3-5). This holy jealousy is rooted in God’s desire to save everyone. Sin destroys but God’s love protects. As marriage demands exclusivity, thus God requires those whom He loves to love Him exclusively (John 4:23). Nobody can serve two masters at the same time. We cannot love God and love the devil at the same time.
The implications of a “jealous God” is mind-blowing! Once again, we see how far the love of God can go to reclaim and protect those whom He loves. God will “fight” out with “holy passion” to have exclusive rights for his creation. A loving God is never indifferent when we go astray. His “holy passion” will spring into protective mode. Like loving parents, will intuitively spring into action to protect their children. God says, “You are mine; I created you and I redeemed you, I am not happy to see you fall prey to a deceiver”. God telling us that He is “a jealous God” has got practical implications in our spirituality.
1. This is a solemn reminder that worship exclusively belongs to our God. Above all things, God should be our priority in all our undertakings.
2. This is a strong reminder that we must be faithful in our covenant relationship with God.
3. This also reminds us that we should take righteousness seriously. Doing the will of God should at the heart of our Christian Walk.
4. Finally, God is reminding us that He desires unwavering devotion.
"You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God” - Exodus 20:3-5
We cannot serve two (or more) gods at the same time. God is the only God worthy of worship. Besides being our Creator, He only means Love towards us - it is marvelous to have a jealous God! He does everything He can to protect and keep us from harm. Unfortunately, it is easy for us, ungrateful creatures, to look for trouble!
Jealous God, please keep us on the way!
God’s jealousy is often described as being “like” a consuming fire, yet His Presence is also portrayed as that of a jealous lover - Exodus 20:5; Deut. 4:24. Paul addresses the church in Corinth, a congregation he had planted - 2 Cor.11:1-4. He finds them influenced by the “subtlety” of other teachers — deception reminiscent of the serpent’s deceit of Eve.
Paul exemplifies righteous jealousy, desiring to safeguard the purity of faith among those he has led to Christ. He speaks of them as being “espoused to one husband”, aiming to present them as a chaste virgin to Christ.
2 Cor.11 speaks to Paul’s anxiety stemming from his deep commitment to protect the believers he had labored so hard to guide. He warns them against being led astray by those preaching “another Jesus”, understanding the grave consequences of following a false gospel.
God demands an exclusive relationship with His people. There is no room for “straddling the fence” or maintaining an on-and-off relationship with Him. As a jealous God, He does not permit His bride to flirt with other gods. His jealousy is not a flaw but a manifestation of passionate love — a love that purifies and edifies His children, training them in righteousness - Jer.3:1-12).
I think from a human standpoint, it's hard to understand God's jealousy because it feels negative. On one level, it makes perfect sense - if anyone has a right to be jealous, it's God, since He created us. He has a right to our allegiance. And yet, we also believe that God honors free choice and doesn't force anyone to worship Him. So part of me feels that jealousy sort of goes against that.
I did notice that God is only mentioned as being jealous for His covenant people. I don't think it ever says He's jealous for the pagan nations, as much as He does love them passionately. So that sort of helps me understand this a bit better. God's people voluntarily joined in covenant with God and then so often broke that covenant. God's jealousy then could be seen as a deep desire to preserve that relationship. It's not like a creepy guy who won't leave a girl who isn't interested in him alone. Anyway, that's what helps me.