Introduction:
When you think of God's description, names, or attributes, what comes
to mind? Did the word 'jealous' make it onto your list? Why not? The word 'jealous' has a bad ring in our ears. From our experience, we associate the word 'jealous' with
not-so-nice results. For example, we associate jealousy with Cain's murder of his
brother, Abel.
“ . . . 'jealousy' means something much different to God than it might mean to you or me. It's certainly not flavored by pettiness, narrowness, selfishness or insecurity, as our 'jealousy' might be.”1
How, then, is God 'jealous'?
“God is jealous in the sense that He will not accept being merely added to” [one's] “life. He insists on being supreme . . .”2
- Illustration: God is not a Post-It Note to be conveniently re-positioned, as you manage your life by rearranging life's responsibilities and realms. One Post-It note reads “career” and a second “family.” Another note says “sexuality” while a different note contains the word “finances.” You rearrange the notes at will to suit your purposes and plans. You don't discard God; you merely stick Him somewhere else for the time being.
- Before Post-It Notes, we had a device that looked like a long metal toothpick protruding upward from a stable base. In order not to lose important scraps or memos, we pierced them at the top of the "toothpick" and then pulled them down. To say that God is Supreme is to allow Him to pierce through every area of your life. According to Colossians 3:4, God isn't part of your life; He is your life.
1Mehl,
Ron. The Tender Commandments.
Sister, OR: Multnomah Publishers, 1998. p. 71.
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