Jealousy is a feeling of resentment, insecurity, or bitterness caused by the fear of losing someone or something to another or to a rival. It is also envy of another’s success, possessions, or advantage. It can also mean being protective or vigilant in guarding something or someone. This can be separated into three major sections:
Envy or resentment of another’s success
Possessiveness / suspicion
Vigilance, being watchful or protective
The Hebrew word translated jealousy is Qanna. This is an adjective used to describe God as jealous or zealous. Another derivative word from Qanna is Kinah, which denotes envy. Qanna / Qanah implies an intense burning passion or, in a positive sense, a protective, zealous, and loyal devotion.
Many passages in the Bible describe our God as a jealous God. This implies that God has an intense concern for the protective and exclusive loyalty of His children, rather than mere insecurity. Our God is not insecure. He has all power in heaven, on earth, and underneath the earth, so He is not afraid of anyone or anything. Rather, He loves His children too much to watch them fall into the trap of the devil and his cohorts.
God is fiercely protective of His own. He will stop at nothing to make sure they are protected. He will spare nothing at all. In Epistle to the Hebrews 12:24, the Bible says that our God is a consuming fire. He will leave no stone unturned and spare nothing when it comes to the object of His love.
Have you ever seen or heard of a husband’s rage when he perceives that his wife is having an affair with another man, or when he senses that her heart is more favorably disposed toward another than toward him? In fact, in some cases it becomes so extreme that some husbands are even jealous of their own sons because the wife seems to care more for the son. One may argue that such jealousy is based on insecurity. But God is not insecure. He knows that if you continue to fraternize with the devil, it can only lead to your destruction.
Therefore, He has put some guards in place for you. You are not the only person in the world. God can afford to do without you, but the sacrifice of His only begotten Son is too great for Him to simply let you go. Because of that, He cannot tolerate certain things:
1. He cannot stand you having or worshipping another god.
Sometimes we are so disillusioned that we think idolatry only happens when someone builds a shrine or makes an image, or when someone stops going to church and begins to associate with gatherings of darkness. But having another god begins when you put anything ahead of God in your life.
What do you value most? Examine your heart right now. What occupies the number one position in it? Do you value your beauty, work, business, family, traditions, or even possessions such as houses, jewelry, or clothes more than Him?
Anything that occupies your life to the point that you cannot let it go at God’s command has become an idol to you. Even if it is something God Himself gave to you, He will not hesitate to remove it. You are to worship the Giver, not the gift.
2. God is a consuming fire.
He can consume anything or anyone in His anger. Yes, He is a loving Father, and He will destroy anything that threatens your well-being. Why then put your life and the lives of those around you in jeopardy? Order your priorities correctly and give Him His rightful place, which is number one.
3. God can be provoked to jealousy with strange gods.
This happens when people sacrifice to devils or hold something or someone so dear that their demands come before God’s commands. When you do this, you are sacrificing your relationship with God on the altar of their demands. Be warned.
4. God can also be provoked to jealousy with “high places.”
These may not necessarily be physical locations. They may be areas of your life where you decide that certain things cannot be touched or surrendered. Sometimes even your possessions can become altars of darkness or graven images that provoke God’s jealousy and His consuming anger.
When God’s rage is stirred, He can wipe things out completely, and His anger can last for a long time.
Yet, because His jealousy springs from love, He is always ready and willing to take you back if you realize your mistake and turn away from your wicked ways.
Prayerfully study the following scriptures and examine your life to ensure that you are not drawing the anger of God upon yourself. You will excel in Jesus’ name.
Study:
Book of Exodus 20:5
Book of Deuteronomy 5:9
Book of Exodus 34:14
Book of Deuteronomy 4:24
Book of Deuteronomy 6:15
Book of Deuteronomy 32:16
Book of Ezekiel 39:25
Book of Joel 2:18
Book of Psalms 78:58