In the story Little Women, Amy, the youngest March sister, in a jealous rage that because she has to stay home while her two eldest sisters go to the theater, burns her sister Jo’s manuscript while she’s out. What’s most chilling, though, is Jo’s reaction when she realizes her sister isn’t kidding: “‘What! My little book I was so fond of, and worked over, and meant to finish before Father got home? Have you really burned it?’ said Jo, turning very pale, while her eyes kindled and her hands clutched Amy nervously.”
In this series of studies, we are looking at the qualities of God’s nature, the God who created the heavens and the earth. Today, I want us to meditate on the quality of jealousy as it relates to God.
It is interesting that “jealousy” is one of the few qualities which are used as distinct names for God.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN THAT GOD IS JEALOUS?
First, the word itself means “to be desirous of” or “to be zealous about.” It can mean “to be excited to anger over” or “to execute judgment because of…”
God is jealous: Exodus 20:5; 34:14. God’s jealousy works in tandem with God’s holiness and God’s anger. Let’s meditate on the God who created the heavens and the earth…
Because His jealousy is connected to His anger and zeal, then it comes as no surprise that God’s jealousy is directed at sin, specifically, images which attract man’s devotion: Psalm 78:58; 1 Cor. 10:19-22; Deuteronomy 32:16; 1 Kings 14:22.
POSITIVE RAMIFICATIONS TO GOD’S JEALOUSY:
First, there are contexts in which it is appropriate for human beings to be jealous. The reason why the Bible often forbids jealousy is because we get jealous over things that do not belong to us. Paul mentions in 2 Corinthians 11:2, that he was jealous for the Corinthians’ affection, not toward himself, but toward Jesus Christ and His Gospel.
God loves us with that intense jealousy and He will defend us: John 10:27-28. Jesus is jealous for His church because we carry His name.
NEGATIVE RAMIFICATIONS TO GOD’S JEALOUSY:
We must use God’s name with the most absolute holiness: Leviticus 24:10-12, 23. Since we, as Christians, carry the name of Christ every where we go, our lives need to be clothed with holiness because God is jealous of His name. Since we carry the name of Christ as a church, we need to behave as a congregation with absolute holiness because God is jealous for His name.
Because God is jealous, we need to make sure that we are showing our love and commitment and dedication to God in our love for Him with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength. His nature needs to be our nature; we need to imitate His qualities as closely and as accurately as we can.
Because God is jealous, we must love His words, His truth, His gospel, with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength. The psalmist wrote: “From Your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way” (Psalm 119:104). We need to hate every false teaching with the zeal of Jesus Christ, because it reflects on the truthfulness and holiness of Jehovah God.
Stay grounded in God’s holiness and reverence, for His jealousy is a power to be reckoned with.
Paul Holland
