Jealous God (Ex. 20:5; 34:14) (Part 2)

1. DEFINITION OF GOD'S JEALOUSY

EXPLANATION

• God's jealousy is the action He takes because of the feeling He gets when He knows your heart is straying from Him.
• Hebrew – qanna' – jealous – “a consuming single-minded pursuit of a good end . . . This positive usage is frequently associated with the marriage relationship where a jealousy for the exclusiveness of the relationship is the necessary condition of its permanence . . .”¹
• Quote: “The interesting thing about this word is that it is only used in reference to God. In no instance is the word qanna' used to describe human jealousy. The reason that God is 'jealous' is because He wants people to choose to love Him.”²
• The basic meaning of qanna' is 'to become dark red', indicating that passion or intensity is increasing.  Don't get the idea, though, that God is an out-of-control Judge Who can't wait to vent His displeasure.  Read Zeph. 3:17; Psa. 86:15; Jer. 9:24.

ILLUSTRATION

• This past week was move-in week at area colleges and universities. After parents helped their adult children carry all those boxes into the dorms, the time came when the lugging was over and room setup was done. Then it was time for “the talk” – the final chance to list the do's and dont's for successful college life.
• Don't go to parties, don't smoke, don't drink.
• Don't drink and drive; don't text and drive.
• Be picky about whom you date. Remember that dating is not why you're here.
• Get enough sleep and make sure to put some green stuff on your plate. Man does not live on cold pizza alone.
• Study hard. If you don't, I'm not sending you any more money.
• Get connected with a local church and find some Christian friends.
• Pastor Mark Adams, in his sermon titled “Why Study The Ten Commandments”, asks:
• Quote: “Now did these parents hand down these rules because they wanted to limit their children's freedom and prevent them from having any fun? No, of course not. They gave their children their own ten or twenty or thirty 'commandments' because they love them and want them to be happy and healthy and safe. They laid down the law because they wanted to protect them from the raving effects of sin.”³
• The parents were jealous for their children's well-being.
• In both verses for today, the context is the Ten Commandments.
• The Ten Commandments is God's 'talk' to His people as they embark upon their new freedom after 4oo+ years of slavery. God “laid down the Law” because He wanted to protect His people from the ravaging effects of sin.
• In other words God is jealous for His people.

APPLICATION

• When you read that God is jealous, does that cause you concern or bring you comfort?
• Why does it cause you concern?
• Why does it bring you comfort?

1Milne, B. A. “Jealousy.” New Bible Dictionary. Second edition. Ed. J. D. Douglas et al. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House, 1987 (4^th reprint). p. 553.

2Deem, Rich. “If God Is Jealous, Doesn't That Make him The Divine Hypocrite?” http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/jealous_god.html (accessed 8-23-16)

3Http://www.redlandbaptist.org/sermon/why-study-the-ten-commandments/ (accessed 5-5-16)