In his self descriptions, our Heavenly Father frames it perfectly. Exodus 34:14 says, Do not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God. Deuteronomy 4:23-24 says...do not make for yourselves an idol in the form of anything the LORD your God has forbidden. For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God. Deuteronomy 6:14-15 says You shall not go after other gods, the gods of the peoples who are around you---for the Lord your God in your midst is a jealous God---lest the anger of the LORD your God be kindled against you, and he destroys you from the face of the earth. Notice a pattern here?
The One True God is a jealous God because he desires our worship and affection more than anything else. He wants nothing to take priority over our love for Him. We may not consciously make an idol for ourselves; but if we love our jobs, our possessions, our hobbies and even other people more than we love Him, we put ourselves in a position to know Him as an all-consuming fire whose anger burns against us. In human terms, we get jealous when someone we love or something we desire doesn't return to us the same love or desire. Now ratchet that up with the knowledge that God created us in his own image (Genesis 1:27) and he allowed his only Son Jesus---in whom He was well-pleased (Matthew 3:17)---to die on the cross to pay our sin debt and reconcile us to Him.
Only the unsearchable depth of the Father's love for us can explain a jealousy that burns like a consuming fire. May his jealousy for us spark a zealous desire for us to passionately seek Him, love Him and know Him more. May his consuming fire burn off the sin and snares that entangle us and refine us more into the image of Jesus.
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