DOES GOD'S JEALOUSY MAKE GOD CRUEL?

(Message by Tanny Keng)

1. A Jealous God

a) Atheists are fond of making lists of Old Testament quotes about God being jealous, and other quotes that make this jealous God appear cruel, vindictive, and unjust.

2. Does God’s Jealousy Make God Cruel?

a) The Bible tells many stories of how God punishes disobedience to him. Atheists love to make lists of these atrocities as they see them. However they never seem to quote the principle on which God always operates. 

b) Here it is in full:

Ezekiel 18:23-32

Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord GOD, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live? But when a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and does injustice and does the same abominations that the wicked person does, shall he live? None of the righteous deeds that he has done shall be remembered; for the treachery of which he is guilty and the sin he has committed, for them he shall die.

Yet you say, 'The way of the Lord is not just.' Hear now, O house of Israel: Is my way not just? Is it not your ways that are not just?

When a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and does injustice, he shall die for it; for the injustice that he has done he shall die. Again, when a wicked person turns away from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he shall save his life. Because he considered and turned away from all the transgressions that he had committed, he shall surely live; he shall not die.

Yet the house of Israel says, 'The way of the Lord is not just.' O house of Israel, are my ways not just? Is it not your ways that are not just?

Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, declares the Lord GOD. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, lest iniquity be your ruin. Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel?

For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord GOD; so turn, and live.

c) This is the God who reveals himself to us. This is his word. God is willing to forgive all those who are willing to trust and obey him. No matter how cruel his punishments seem in our eyes, God gives the opportunity to avoid them, and instead be richly blessed by him.

d) God is jealous because he is zealous — zealous for what is right, and therefore zealous against what is wrong. And God, being God, has the right to define wrong and decide punishment; we don't. 

The End ...