For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God..

Exodus 20:5

When her baby brother was born, our 2 ½ year old daughter had a rude awakening. Suddenly, she wasn’t the only child. Her parents’ attentions were divided, and in the early days, the division did not seem fair. For almost a year, when referring to her brother, she called him ‘the boy.’

Jealousy can be an ugly thing.  It can bring devastating harm and irrevocable consequences. It can also be a beautifully tender thing as a child desires a parents’ full attention.

Webster’s definition of jealous reveals God’s heart for us:  hostile toward a rival; vigilant in guarding a possession. Jealousy is a strong emotion that can make others flee or can draw them close. How is God jealous for me?

He is jealous for my time, my attention, my affection, my devotion, my interest. God wants to be paramount in all these areas of my life. Any place where He is not first, idolatry is crouching at my door.

While human jealousy is rooted in anger, envy, pride and personal ego, Godly jealousy is rooted in love. Human jealousy displays a love of self more than a love for another. God’s jealousy shows a fierce love for others. In Deuteronomy 7:7-8, Scripture tells us, “The Lord had his heart set on you and chose you…because the Lord loved you”.  It is a father’s love for a son that causes him to claim him as his own.

Lord, your jealous nature protects me from unworthy things that capture my eyes, my mind and my heart. Because your love draws me close, you tolerate no other loves. Forgive me for looking elsewhere for satisfaction. How can I truly worship another but You, Lord?

Jill Hardin                                                                                                                               

Unless otherwise notated, all Scripture is from the Christian Standard Bible.