On the top of Mount Sinai Moses had an encounter with God. God gave him some commandments for living that he, as the leader of Israel, was to pass on to the people. During that encounter, God informed Moses that he was a jealous God. “You must worship no other gods, for the Lord, whose very name is Jealous, is a God who is jealous about his relationship with you.” (Exodus 34:14)
To say God is jealous seems to degrade him as a perfect being in the minds of many. That’s because in our world, the word jealous is most often understood and used as a negative term.
But being jealous is also positive. When a parent is jealous for the well-being of a child, that’s good. When a student is jealous for good marks at school, that’s positive.
James 4:5 says “…the spirit God caused to live in us envies intently.” He’s jealous. Why? He desires our highest and best. As the all-knowing and all-seeing God, he knows the end from the beginning. He asks that we not lean on our own limited understanding of things but recognize Him in everything we do so that he can direct our paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6) God stands jealously by when he sees us chase after lesser gods or live lives independent of him.
Jesus stood one day, overlooking the city of Jerusalem. These were the people he had called to be his special chosen people. And yet they so often rebelled against God, violated his laws, and travelled their own independent way. “How often would I have gathered you to myself just as a mother hen gathers her chicks under her wings,” Jesus lamented, “but you were not willing.” (Matthew 23:37)
God is jealous for your love, obedience, and devotion. Not that he is such an emotional cripple he needs man to dote over him. He does not. He desires it for one reason – our highest good. God wants to be involved in our lives to direct us, bless us, and bring to fruition our full reason for being.
“God blesses those people who refuse evil advice and won’t follow sinners or join in sneering at God. Instead, the Law of the Lord makes them happy, and they think about it day and night. They are like trees growing beside a stream, trees that produce fruit in season and always have leaves. Those people succeed in everything they do.” (Psalm 1:1-3 CEV)
Be blessed my friend.
Glen (Pitts)
The Barnabas Group / Loads of Love
Psalm 78:58; Duet. 4:24; Ezekiel 8:5; II Corinthians 11:2
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