The Lord, whose name is Jealous

“for you shall worship no other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.” Exodus 34:14

I must admit to you that when I turned the page in my little book I have been studying and saw that this was the next name of God we would study I was a bit surprised. In fact as many times as I am sure I have read this passage I had never noticed this verse that says “the Lord, whose name is Jealous.” It never crossed my mind that the Lord actually referred to Himself as Jealous, as in it being His name! 

I think to us as humans here on this earth the term jealous or jealousy has negative connotations may be part of the reason. And yes, jealousy can tear apart relationships and it can consume. I have never been a particularly jealous person, at least I don’t think I am. I am sure that I have exhibited jealousy before but I don’t think it is something I struggle with to the point of it consuming me. I know I have had jealous thoughts of other people. Not so much in my relationship with my husband and I am sure that says more about him than about me. I am so secure in who he is and I think he is in who I am to worry about other people coming between us. (Don’t get me wrong, we are human and can sure let other issues bring us down if we aren’t careful, but jealousy is not one of them.) I am much more likely to be jealous of friendships and other outward relationships. I have to say that when I do feel jealousy rising up inside of me, I truly try to talk myself off the ledge quickly because I have lived long enough now to know that I don’t like who I become on those occasions that I do let that ugly green eyed monster in. Human jealousy can be so consuming that it destroys and tears down any relationships in your path. 

But God’s jealousy is different. God’s name is Jealous because He wants all consuming devotion from us. Unlike human consuming devotion, when we have an all consuming devotion to Him it makes us better. When you make this time and this devotion for God a priority in your life it is amazing how your other relationships and commitments and obligations in your life will fall into place in a good and perfect order. God wants our devotion to Him for our good. 

My reading this morning came out of the book of Exodus. I read passages from Exodus 20 to about 34 (not inclusive but selective passages). 

In Exodus 20 when God gave Moses the 10 Commandments, the second one is listed in verse 4 and it goes into detail in verses 5-6. 

“You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God” Exodus 20:4-5

God is very explicit about us worshiping other gods. Now you and I may say well I don’t worship carved images so I’m good with that one. But our carved images could be many things. What might you be putting in front of or before your relationship with the Lord? I can think because I get up early and have a quiet time with Him every day that I am putting Him first but I can promise you that as soon as I walk out my front door and begin to see other people that I am sure there are other things going in front of me that will get my perspective out of whack in a heartbeat. God wants us and our devotion and He wants us to not put anything above our relationship with Him. There are also things I have to guard against when I first get up. Do I start with study or do I start by scrolling Facebook first and/or looking at my email first? I can be guilty of that way more times than I wish I were. Am I putting my relationships with humans first? What is getting in the way? God wants all of me, not just the parts I think I want to submit to Him and then hold other parts back. He is Jealous for me and He is Jealous for you!