Updated: Dec 28, 2019
“For you shall worship no other god: for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a Jealous God”.
(Exodus 34:14 – KJV)
God is desirous that our affections are only for Him, and nothing else! His desire is not like that of sinful man who is Jealous over what someone else has, but rather He is Jealous over you, He is Jealous over your faith. Why? Because He loves you, and He wants your love and dedication even as He is dedicated to you! In fact He is so Jealous over you as He was with Moses that sometimes he will allow things to begin to burn in your life to get your attention….just as that bush kept on burning, and attracted the attention of Moses God will allow things to begin to burn in our lives to get our attention (Exodus 3:2). You see “For whom the Lord Loves he chastens…” and He does so to bring us back to Himself. God is a Jealous God!
Pulpits talk frequently about the names of God such as “Jehovah Jireh,” meaning the Lord is our Provider, or “Jehovah Shalom, ” meaning the Lord is our peace, but how many times have you heard a message on “Jehovah qanna,” meaning the Lord is Jealous? I would venture to say very few times if ever. Yet, the Lord is Jealous over us with a Godly Jealousy, and only having our best interest in mind. You see dear saint He wants your life to be blessed, more abundant, and full of His presence and glory, and that only comes as we commit our lives unto Him, and follow His ways!
The Apostle James also discusses the Jealousy of the Lord in His epistle. He says, “The Spirit who dwells in us lusts to envy?” (James 4:5 – KJV) James makes this statement in a context where the people of his church were ensconced in worldliness, and as the world’s passions and desires were centered on self, so the church of his day! Yet, the Holy Spirit is wanting control over our lives, He is not wanting the lusts of our flesh to control us, but rather that He control us. You are asking, “yes, but how?” How do I offer the Holy Spirit control, and not allow the flesh to have its way? You must do what Moses did when the bush was on fire, you have to take off your shoes, and by faith submit yourself to God, and in particular submit yourself to His way of Righteousness (James 4:7; Rom. 10:3). The Apostle Paul told the Galatians “Christ has been evidently set forth, crucified among you…did you receive the Spirit (the Spirits working) by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are you so foolish having begun in the Spirit, are you now made perfect (mature) by the flesh?” (Gal. 3:1-3) The answer to our sinful desires is found in this passage, and the answer is simple #1. The Cross, #2. Our Faith, and #3. The Holy Spirit.
As we maintain our Faith in the Cross as the means of Righteousness, and are submitting to God thereby the Holy Spirit will go to work to bring about righteousness within our lives! Faith in anything else is destructive, arises the Jealousy of God, and will result in the works of the flesh manifesting that James spoke of in his epistle and of course Paul (Gal. 5:19-22).
In the summer of 1986, two ships collided in the Black Sea off the coast of Russia. Hundreds of passengers died as they were hurled into the icy waters below. News of the disaster was further darkened when an investigation revealed the cause of the accident. It wasn’t a technology problem like radar malfunction—or even thick fog. The cause was none other than human stubbornness. Each captain was aware of the other ship’s presence nearby. Both could have steered clear, but according to news reports, neither captain wanted to give way to the other. Each was too proud to yield first. By the time they came to their senses, it was too late!
God is a Jealous God, and if your faith and direction is not according to His word then yield to Him today and do not wait!
God’s Love and Best to you!
In Christ
Clint
