If Jealousy Is A Sin, How Do We Understand God’s Jealousy?

 

            The Bible asserts that jealousy is a sin and at the same time it reveals that God is a jealous God. This, at first, seems to be contradictory, but how do we resolve this apparent contradiction?

            Dr. Norman Geisler and Professor Thomas Howe offer a clear and a concise solution:¹

EXODUS 20:5A—DOES GOD GET JEALOUS?

PROBLEM: The Bible not only says here that God is a “jealous God,” but it also declares His very “name is Jealous” (Ex. 34:14). On the other hand, jealousy is a sin. But, if God is absolutely holy, then how can He be jealous?

SOLUTION: God is jealous in the good sense of the word, namely, He is jealous for the love and devotion of His people (cf. Ex. 20:5). Paul spoke of a “godly jealousy” (2 Cor. 11:2). The verses on God’s jealousy are all in the context of idolatry. Like any true lover, God is jealous when anyone or anything else steals the devotion of His beloved.

Human jealousy is often coveting what does not belong to us. However, God’s jealousy is protecting what does belong to Him, namely His own supremacy. It is not a sin for God to claim allegiance of His creatures because He is the Creator. And He knows that it is best for them not to make an ultimate commitment to what is less than ultimate (idols). Only an ultimate commitment to what is really Ultimate will ultimately satisfy the human heart. God is jealous to protect this.

            Christian Q&A website Gotquestions.org offers a practical example to help understand this dilemma better: “If a husband sees another man flirting with his wife, he is right to be jealous, for only he has the right to flirt with his wife. This type of jealousy is not sinful. Rather, it is entirely appropriate. Being jealous for something that God declares to belong to you is good and appropriate. Jealousy is a sin when it is a desire for something that does not belong to you. Worship, praise, honor, and adoration belong to God alone, for only He is truly worthy of it. Therefore, God is rightly jealous when worship, praise, honor, or adoration is given to idols. This is precisely the jealousy the apostle Paul described in 2 Corinthians 11:2, “I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy...””²

            This subject has been studied more extensively in an article entitled The Jealousy of God on The Gospel Coalition’s website.  Please read this article if you desire further clarity on this subject.³

Endnotes:

¹https://defendinginerrancy.com/bible-solutions/Exodus_20.5a.php

²https://www.gotquestions.org/jealous-God.html

³https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/essay/the-jealousy-of-god/

Websites last accessed on 25^th February 2022.