It seems strange to think of God as jealous. We have so long been told that jealousy is a bad thing and to attribute that characteristic to God seems blasphemous. Yet, God Himself declares that He is a jealous God. In fact, in our reading today from Numbers 25, in His commendation of Phinehas, God said, "...he was jealous with my jealousy among them, so that I did not consume the people of Israel in my jealousy." So....the fact is God describes Himself as jealous, so what do we do with this?
One important point in thinking clearly about jealousy is this: God's jealousy is not self-centered whereas human jealousy is very self-centered. When humans are filled with jealousy they are usually thinking about themselves and what they want or don't want to lose. They are thinking that another person has the "upper hand" and they do not like being "cheated" in this way.
God's jealousy is quite different. Yes, He does demand the sole devotion of His creatures, but He does so because He knows that it is best for them. When humans go after idols they end up ruining themselves. When they seek pleasure in something other than God they end up being enslaved to their passions and when this pursuit reaches its end, humans are living more like animals than humans. This grieves the heart of God. He does not like to see His creatures wasting away, moving rapidly toward death. So, in his jealousy He acts, often disciplining His people so that they will be drawn back to Him alone.
Now a jealousy that has in mind the welfare of others truly is something divine and worth emulating. That seems to be what Phinehas did. He saw the idolatry of his people. He saw the judgment of God upon that folly. He saw people dying all around him because they had defected from their God, so he acted with jealousy for his God.
Though his actions seem brutal, killing two people with a spear, his actions actually saved a multitude of people. For this he was commended by God who said "he was jealous with My jealousy." Phinehas' jealousy was not a human jealousy. He was zealous to see his people wholly devoted to God because he knew there is life only as one's affections are fully given to God.
Are you ever jealous? Do you ever look at people and feel hostile because of some advantage they have over you? That is human jealousy which will only destroy you. Repent of it and live! Then consider being jealous for God. Realize the people around you will only be fully alive as they give themselves wholly to God. Give your jealous energies to point them to Christ in whom they will find life and that more abundantly (John 10:10).
One important point in thinking clearly about jealousy is this: God's jealousy is not self-centered whereas human jealousy is very self-centered. When humans are filled with jealousy they are usually thinking about themselves and what they want or don't want to lose. They are thinking that another person has the "upper hand" and they do not like being "cheated" in this way.
God's jealousy is quite different. Yes, He does demand the sole devotion of His creatures, but He does so because He knows that it is best for them. When humans go after idols they end up ruining themselves. When they seek pleasure in something other than God they end up being enslaved to their passions and when this pursuit reaches its end, humans are living more like animals than humans. This grieves the heart of God. He does not like to see His creatures wasting away, moving rapidly toward death. So, in his jealousy He acts, often disciplining His people so that they will be drawn back to Him alone.
Now a jealousy that has in mind the welfare of others truly is something divine and worth emulating. That seems to be what Phinehas did. He saw the idolatry of his people. He saw the judgment of God upon that folly. He saw people dying all around him because they had defected from their God, so he acted with jealousy for his God.
Though his actions seem brutal, killing two people with a spear, his actions actually saved a multitude of people. For this he was commended by God who said "he was jealous with My jealousy." Phinehas' jealousy was not a human jealousy. He was zealous to see his people wholly devoted to God because he knew there is life only as one's affections are fully given to God.
Are you ever jealous? Do you ever look at people and feel hostile because of some advantage they have over you? That is human jealousy which will only destroy you. Repent of it and live! Then consider being jealous for God. Realize the people around you will only be fully alive as they give themselves wholly to God. Give your jealous energies to point them to Christ in whom they will find life and that more abundantly (John 10:10).
No comments:
Post a Comment