If God Is A Jealous God, Why Is Jealousy Bad? ⋆ Effie Darlene Barba

If God Is A Jealous God, Why Is Jealousy Bad?

In the book of Exodus, we find that the children of Israel became impatient and fearful. Moses had gone high into the mountain to meet with God. They could only see the fire surrounding the mountain. Despite all that God had done to guide and protect them, they became restless while waiting. Then, they decided to build a golden calf to worship. They sang and danced in worship to this golden image of their own making. God commanded Moses to descend and deal with the people. When he did, in anger he broke the tablets of the law. Once he had destroyed the golden calf and rebuked the people, he pleaded to God for the people. God forgave them. Moses ascended the mountain with new tablets. God said, “thou shalt worship no other god: for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God” Exodus 34:14.

So, how are we to interpret this? If God is a jealous god, then is jealousy bad? How is His jealousy different than ours? To help us understand this, we need to first of all look to the preceding verses.

A Righteous and Jealous God?

And the Lord descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord. And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, “The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty. …Behold I make a covenant: before all thy people I will do marvels, such as have not been done in all the earth, nor in any nation: and all the people among which thou art shall see the work of the Lord” (Exodus 34:5-7,10).

God’s jealousy toward His people, is not one built out of fear or envy. He is a jealous God; because, He loves us and as our Creator knows our hearts can never be fully satisfied apart from Him. All these other counterfeit joys we seek or think will satisfy, only lead to brokenness. This is quite different from the jealousy that you or I have toward others. Ours is either built on envy or is more concerned about our feelings than it truly is about the other. Look at these lyrics from Jealous by Labyrinth.

‘Cause I wished you the best of

All this world could give

And I told you when you left me

There’s nothing to forgive

But I always thought you’d come back,

Tell me all you found was

Heartbreak and misery

It’s hard for me to say,

I’m jealous of the way

You’re happy without me.[1]

Our hearts don’t really want them to be happy, we just say that. God is not envious of our happiness. Instead, He desires our happiness. Yet, He is the only source of true happiness.

Defining Jealousy

If you look up the definition of jealousy, the first two definitions deal with envy. (much like the jealousy I described in the previous post as mine toward Mom). Yet, if you look at the root of the word you will find that it came from the medieval latin word zelosus which became zealous and then later jealous. For that reason, if you look at the third definition of jealous, you will find it to be “fiercely protective or vigilant of ones rights or possessions.”[2]

God wants to protect us from the heartbreaks of this world and He knows that true joy, peace, hope and love are found in Him alone. His jealousy, unlike ours is based on His Mercy, Grace, and Love for us. All that He does in our life has one purpose, our joy. That abiding, steadfast joy can only be found in Him. When we recognize that truth, everything changes. Even our trials have meaning when we see them through His eyes of Love, Grace, and Mercy.

God is passionately, devoted and committed to bringing you close to His heart. His covenant of love to all who accept Jesus Christ as their Savior is to write His “laws into their hearts, and in their minds…And their sins and iniquities will (He) remember no more” (Hebrews 10:16).

So, my one question to you is? Do you know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? Without the blood of Christ, there is no remission for sin. Have you been washed in the blood? There is no other name under heaven by which men might be saved. (Acts 4:12).

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ABIDING, STEADFAST JOY

A labor of love, this book provides you with 3 foundations of truth from the scripture which once known will provide you with abiding, steadfast joy. Undaunted by the storms of life; your joy will overflow.

WHEN INJUSTICE AND VIOLENCE REIGN:
Through a study of Nahum, Habukkuk, and Zephaniah; I brought their message into our modern times. Answering the questions of “Why, God?”

Providing a foundation of faith and hope; even, as we see so much evil in the world and in our nation. With so much sorrow and despair, this book I wrote to guide you into discovering God’s Perfect Plan of love; amid this chaotic world filled with life’s storms.

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©Effie Darlene Barba, 2018
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.