CAN WE SYMPATHIZE WITH GOD BEING JEALOUS?

(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. Can We Sympathize With God Being Jealous?

a) A pocket dictionary definition such as Google’s says, "Jealous: feeling or showing an envious resentment of someone or their achievements, possessions, or perceived advantages."  

b) Jealousy, however, can also be aroused against someone who is coveting, and usurping, something that is rightfully yours — rather than you coveting what rightfully is theirs.

c) For example Paul says, "For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ." (2 Corinthians 11:2).

d) Paul worked very hard to fashion the Corinthians for Christ. Didn't he have a right to be jealous toward anyone trying to re-shape them? He calls his jealousy a “divine” or “godly” jealousy because it is a jealousy like God’s.

e) Paul also calls the church "a pure virgin to Christ". Christ is the groom, the church is the bride, and Paul feels like the best man. Does he have no right to feel jealous, fearful, and angry, when someone tries to lead the “betrothed virgin” astray into infidelity?

f) Paul says, in self-deprecation, that he is writing "a little foolishness" (2 Corinthians 11:1), but he is not so foolish as those who argue, in effect, that God is wrong to claim divinity for himself and to be angry when it is attributed to idols. 

The End ...