The Jealousy of God Jealousy immediately triggers negative thoughts. If that be the case, then how dare we think that God is characterized by Jealousy? We need to understand both sides of the jealousy coin. Jealousy can be driven or motivated by holy and righteous motives and also by unholy and unrighteousness. Jealousy can be a sign of both sinful weakness and wounded pride, on the one hand, and genuine love, on the other. Jealously is sometimes the expression of an excessively possessive spirit, and at other times the fruit of care and concern for the welfare of the one who is loved. Jealousy is often the result of deep insecurity in a person’s soul, but also a reflection of commitment and devotion to the person loved. The jealousy that burns within the heart of God is good and godly and holy. At the very core of His being, in the centre of his personality is an inextinguishable blaze of immeasurable love called jealousy. In Exodus 34:14 the Lord states “For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:” Deuteronomy 4:24 “For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.” Ezekiel 39:25 “Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Now will I bring again the captivity of Jacob, and have mercy upon the whole house of Israel, and will be jealous for my holy name;” To say that God is jealous certainly does not mean that he is suspicious because of some insecurity in his heart or that God is jealous does not mean he is wrongfully envious of the success of others. Jealousy that is sinful is most often the product of anxiety, bitterness, and fear. But surely none of this could be true of God. Sinful jealousy is diametrically opposite of holy jealousy. But as J. I. Packer explains, “God's jealousy is not a compound of frustration, envy, and spite, as human jealousy so often is, but appears instead as a . . . praiseworthy zeal to preserve something supremely precious” Divine jealousy is thus a zeal to protect a love relationship or to avenge it when it is broken. Jealousy in God is that passionate energy by which he is provoked and stirred and moved to take action against whatever or whoever stands in the way of his love and desire. God is thus zealous to protect His people from sin and give them everlasting life. The intensity of God's anger is directly proportionate to the depths of his love. In the New Testament God’s jealousy is mentioned in 1 Corinthians 10:22 and James 4:5 in connection with idolatry and spiritual adultery, and believers are exhorted to avoid those things that contradict all that God has done for them in Christ. Instead, God wants us to walk in humility and holiness and to worship and serve him alone. When human beings seek their own honour and glory, they are denying what belongs to God as they were made to glorify God and to enjoy him forever. Jealousy is a sin when it is a desire for something that does not belong to us. Worship, praise, honour, and adoration belong to God alone, for only He is truly worthy of it. Therefore, God is rightly jealous when worship, praise, honour, or adoration is given to idols. This is precisely the jealousy the apostle Paul described in II Corinthians 11:2, “I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy...” God is most jealous for his own glory, fame, and honour! God desires above all else that his name be preserved and promoted. Dr Ashwin Drummond Laddertoheaven.co.in