I was in my favorite Sunday School this morning, when the teacher challenged us to find out more about the God we serve. He suggested attributes such as grace, mercy, and jealousy.
Jealousy?
I told him that would be my topic for study for the following week and I would get back to him about my findings. Hence this series on the Jealousy of God
During class he did warn us that when studying the attributes of God, a natural reaction is seeing the sin in us. I fully expect this, and was surprised when, as a young believer experienced this for the first time. I was hanging out with the brother who led me to the Lord, and was discussing how dirty I felt. He asked me what I had been studying and told me to get used to it.
OLD TESTAMENT JEALOUSY
To start with, I wanna know if the jealousy that God is defined by is the same as that which, by association, is evil in us.
General Jealousy
The English word jealousy is first found in Genesis 26:14.
Genesis 26:14
He had possessions of flocks and herds and many servants, so that the Philistines envied him.
The Hebrew word is H7065, קָנָא qânâʼ, kaw-naw’; to envy, be jealous, be envious, be zealous.
This word occurs 42 times in 29 verses.
I understand this word to define common or general jealousy, since it seems to be dealing with jealousy and envy between men.
Another good example of this jealousy being displayed is between the sons of Israel (God’s people?).
Genesis 37:11 describes Israel’s sons attitude toward Joseph.
Genesis 37:11
And his brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the saying in mind.
In this world we tread, suspicion, fear and competition enter into our experience and create a sometimes irrational emotion described as jealousy. Actual (or feared) loss of the love of a friend, sibling or parent will cause jealousy to rear it’s ugly head. The results of this jealousy is at most times evil. From spreading slander to fits of rage, to murder and self destruction, jealousy has some wicked fruits.
To be jealous is to see true love slipping away, to fear the attention of your love to be directed to someone else. The results or outcome of jealousy can vary wildly. I believe this will become obvious as we venture on.
As you can see from a cursory glance of the verses following, jealousy is closely associated with worship, the act of love from the saint to the Savior.
This makes sense since jealousy is closely related to the competition for ones love.
Hope you can visit with me next time we look at this topic of jealousy. In the mean time, Love God and His Son.
Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion.
Considering the Bible 