Is God Really "Jealous?"

In Exodus, while giving Moses the 10 Commandments, God described Himself as "Jealous." 

“Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God..." (Exodus 20:4-5)

Many have wondered about this particular topic and don’t believe they’ve ever gotten a straight answer. Because I believe the Word of God is very clear on this matter, I won’t delay getting into a direct yes or no. Is God really Jealous? The answer… Absolutely! God goes as far to say His very name is "Jealous"!

"Do not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God." (Exodus 34:14)

As I stated, God is indeed Jealous. However, His Jealousy is not in the sense that you and I generally understand jealousy. Today, we understand jealousy to be hatred or ill-feelings toward someone who either has something we want, or does things that we’d like to do, but can't. It's an emotion grounded in pride, selfishness, and self-ambition. In the eyes of many, jealousy is seen as a petty, human emotion. And if God is indeed Jealous, he must be both petty, and human (fallible, conceived of human-thought). This is not an accurate description or definition of the Jealousy of God.

There is a big difference between being "jealous of" something or someone, and being "jealous for" something or someone. God being "Jealous of" something or someone is impossible, and totally contrary to Scripture. No one has anything that God doesn't have. Everything, seen and unseen belongs to God. And no one can do anything that God can't do. God is far superior to humans. We clearly see in Scripture that:

"The earth is the LORD's, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein." (Psalm 24:1) and

"For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him." (Colossians 1:16) and in regard to his superiority:

"As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:9) and finally:

"With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." (Matthew 19:26)

God is "jealous for" His people. When God originally describes Himself as Jealous, He does this in explanation of the 1st and 2nd commandments. 1. Thou Shall Have No Other God's Before Me. 2. Thou Shall Make No Graven Image For Yourselves, and You Shall Not Bow Down and Worship Them. God wanted to make it clear through His chosen people that there is only One God, Yahweh/Jehovah. God called Israel out of a pagan nation, out of a pagan world, where the worship of idols and multiple gods was the norm. He made a covenant with Israel to be their God, and for Israel to be His people. God likens His covenant with Israel to a marriage, and compares it likewise many times. He often describes Israel as adulterous during its times of rebellion, as they disregard the covenant they made with Him. Two such examples are found in Exodus & Isaiah:

"And you will accept their daughters, who worship other gods, as wives for your sons. Then they will cause your sons to commit adultery against me by worshiping other gods." (Exodus 34:16)

"You have committed adultery on the mountaintops by worshiping idols there, and so you have been unfaithful to me." (Isaiah 57:7)

Merriam-Webster’s dictionary defines "Jealous" as "intolerant of rivalry or unfaithfulness". In a marriage, two people commit to one another for better or worse, and they forsake ALL others for their spouse alone. By this definition, all husbands and wives should be "jealous for" their spouse. They should be absolutely intolerant of rivalry and unfaithfulness when it comes to their spouse. They should never have to think that their spouse, whose body Scripture says belongs to them, is engaging in intimate activity with another. I feel this exact way for my wife. And God feels this way for His people. In rhythm with the commandments He gave, He desires that His people entertain no other supposed-satisfaction. He is God. There is nothing and no one better. And He deserves no competition for our love and devotion. This should be highlighted by the fact that there is nothing and no one worthy to be in competition with God. As an adult, imagine your spouse cheating with a 13 year-old child who is mentally-challenged... Beyond the vile-nature of the offense in itself, would your anger not burn all the more because of the fact that this child can in no way offer your spouse what you can? You would at least think that if adultery was to be your spouse’s chosen route that they would have cheated with someone in better standing than you on certain levels. But in every instance of our unfaithfulness to God, we "cheat-down". Meaning, we abandon that which is clearly better for that which is obviously far worse. Society often tries to flip God's jealousy into something weak and human. But contrary to popular belief, God's jealousy is extremely just.