The Jealous God

On several occasions, God is called a jealous God. Here are a few examples:

"For you shall not worship any other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God" (Exodus 34:14 NASB1995).

"23 So watch yourselves, that you do not forget the covenant of the Lord your God which He made with you, and make for yourselves a graven image in the form of anything against which the Lord your God has commanded you. 24 For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God" (Deuteronomy 4:23-24 NASB1995).

So, how can this be so, if jealousy is a sin how can God commit it? Well, we must first ask one question. Is jealousy always a sin? Can jealously be righteous?

How Is Jealousy Defined?

Jealousy is defined as the desire for/of someone, their possessions, or their qualities.

Righteous Jealousy:

So, how is God jealous? He isn't envious of someone's possessions clearly, he can create anything logical after all. The same is true with qualities, as long as he doesn't contradict his nature. So, how can God be jealous then? Well, he can be jealous for someone. Let us relook at that Exodus verse, as it says, "For you shall not worship any other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God" (Exodus 34:14 NASB1995). He wants you to worship him, to give him glory.

Why? Well, God made us to be with him, to love him and live with him in Heaven(Colossians 1:16). God wants us to be with him, to be saved, to not suffer in Hell(i.e. A place where he is not).

Is this not a good reason to be jealous? To desire people to go to Heaven? Well, I'd have to say that is good.

Cited Work: