... for I the Lord your God am a jealous God ... Exodus 20:5
Jealousy arises when someone else gets something we are due, but in of our fallen state we sometimes claim things that aren’t ours. Because of this, jealousy usually provokes a negative connotation for us. It is often unjustified.
Not so with God. God is entitled to everything. When we don’t give Him His due – whether glory, praise, our time, affections or even our lives, He is righteously jealous for those things.He is owed it all. The closest imagery is that of a husband and his bride. The bride’s affections rightfully belong to her spouse. Qanna – that we translate jealous – is only used in reference to God, never to us. It is pure and can also be translated a zealous.
We see El Qanna first in Exodus when the Israelites are warned against idolatry. God alone should be worshipped because He alone deserves it. I don’t often feel like I struggle with idolatry, at least not what it looked like in ancient times. But how often do I put something before Him - my own dreams, my comfort, my relationships. Any of that – which could arguably be called good - will provoke jealousy in God if they have been given prominence over Him. He comes first. And He comes alone. He is zealous for our relationship. He is jealous, protective, of our affections.
Am I giving someone or something else what is rightly His? God deserves the credit for all good things in my life – do I give it to Him or keep it myself? God deserves my trust – does He have it or is it in my hard work and 401k. I am tempted to trust in my job, rely on my own abilities, or prioritize my time according to my own understanding. Those are all false gods – even my reputation and good works when not in their proper place can become an idol.
God calls Himself jealous when warning His people. It is paired in verses alongside His wrath. God is loving – zealously so. But we are warned not to provoke His jealousy by our unfaithfulness. God’s jealousy protects us, and calls us back to Him.
For you shall worship no other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God. Exodus 34:14
1 Response