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Did you know - God gets jealous too? (Ezekiel 16) ‘What????’ I hear you say, ‘God can be jealous? Surely you have got that wrong, isn’t jealousy a sin?’
God Gets Jealous Too
How can a God who is Holy and loving, full of Grace and Mercy be jealous? Just maybe we need to revisit our understanding of the We word ‘jealous’ and how it is used to very describe the nature of God. often are guilty ‘you shall not bow down to them of taking the nor serve them. For I, the Lord your things that should God, am a jealous God’ be reserved for God Its use here, in Exodus 20:5 to and giving them or describe God is different from how using them for someone it is used to describe the sin of else. Think about how we use our jealousy (Galatians 5:20). “Jealous” time. On many occasions, we give is often used in the context of being God the last five minutes before envious or covetous of someone we fall asleep, having given away who has something we do not everything else, the best part of our have. That something could be day. We expect Him to be satisfied looks, ability, possessions or even with that. I have news for you, He their partner or spouse. It is in the is not. setting of this last example that Think about how we use our ‘Godwe may want to consider God as Given’ skills and abilities, think being ‘Jealous’. In Ezekiel 16, about how we use the things we it is not that God is jealous or possess. envious because someone has something He wants or needs God What God is ‘jealous’ of belongs is jealous when someone gives to to Him; our worship, our service, another something that rightly our devotion belong to Him alone. belongs to Him! The word used Anything or anyone we put ahead for ‘jealous’ Kana is often translated of Him, in front of Him, assumes or re-interpreted as ‘Zealous’ the position of an idol. and is perhaps a better way of understanding its use in Scripture. ‘I am the LORD, that is My name; Ezekiel describes Jerusalem as an I will not give My glory to another, unfaithful wife giving favours to Nor My praise to graven images,’ several other suitors, in fact giving Isaiah 42:8 favours to anyone except her When we relegate God to less than husband, God! God is responding first, we hurt and damage ourselves as someone who catches their because it is like exchanging Gold for partner in the act of cheating on tin. God desires the best for us and them. It is not jealousy as in the is zealous about it. His zealousness sense of coveting someone else but is a reflection of His love for us. A indignation at someone taking what love so intense, so zealous that is yours and spoiling it. John said ‘For God So Loved the 20
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October - December 2020
World… that He sent His only Son, Jesus Christ. This is the ‘ jealousy’ Paul described in 2 Corinthians 11:2, “I am jealous for you with godly jealousy...” p Bishop John Jackson, Senior Pastor NTCG Muntz Street. Married with children and a keen lover of music and Arsenal Football Club!
