| MY NAME IS JEALOUS |
One of the major errors people make comes from failing to study the
revelation G-d gives us concerning Himself so they do not really know the G-
d of the Scriptures. For example, He has many names that identify His being:
He is called Jah, El, Elohim, YHWH, El Shaddai, El Gibbor (Mighty G-d),
Zur (The Rock), Elizur (G-d the rock), and so forth. In Exodus 34:14, He
reveals to Moses, . . .for you shall worship no other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is
a jealous God), . . .
The message in this name of G-d is loud and clear. He is a jealous G-d who
will not share His honor or His rightful claim on the lives of those who
belong to His kingdom. He knew the nature of human beings regardless of
their nationality: they are inclined to divide their loyalties in order to follow
their passions. Their gods might be money, prestige, power, popularity, etc.
There is a long list of gods that dominate the lives of people. Though they
are false gods that exist only in the minds of their worshipers, they have a
huge impact on the lives of their followers as they draw them away from the
one true G-d.
For example, sports are good until they become one's god. When this
happens, people begin to build their lives around these sports. Nothing, even
worship of the one true G-d, can get in the way of going to the game or
watching it on television. Billions of dollars are spent on stadiums to give
their god the proper temple, special clothing, hats, etc. (One can go to a
game without making sports their god, but when one becomes so
impassioned with a sport that it takes first place in one's life, it has become
an idol.
If money becomes one's god, there is no limit to what one will do to get more
of it since the god of money is the source of happiness, pleasure. The follower
of this god will cheat, obsess with work to the point of ignoring one's family,
and exploit others to get the most wealth.
The list of gods is endless. In the case of Israel, the people had already made
a golden calf and paid a high price learning that one name of G-d is Jealous.
Historically, Israel had trouble with its people giving
Baal and Astarte at least equal standing with the one true G-d and sometimes
first priority.
The Almighty made it clear through Moses that idolatry would not be
tolerated in any form. Ex. 34:6-7 6And the Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The
Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long suffering, and abounding in goodness and truth,
7keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the
guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children’s children to the third and
the fourth generation.”
It is true that the Holy One is gracious and merciful, long suffering and
abounding in goodness and truth, but this revelation was accompanied with a
warning. Though He forgave the iniquity of His people by granting them
unmerited mercy and grace, He would not tolerate those who defied Him by
breaking His covenant wilfully. Even if the third and fourth generation
continued defying G-d's prohibition against idolatry, each generation would
know the consequences for their actions.
It never ceases to amaze me when I encounter the audacity of unbelievers
who think they are equals to G-d, having every right to insist on having a
part in creating the covenant relationship they have with the King of kings.
The Holy One never asks for the input of His creatures as He brings them His
covenant. He declares what is expected of those who are His people: either
they accept His covenant or they are counted as those who are guilty of
violating His covenant.
I have talked with those who act as if they have every right to set the terms or
conditions for G-d to be their G-d. FOOLISH PEOPLE! Every man, woman
and child will stand before the judgment seat of the Holy One to be judged
by G-d's Word: our Lord will not give any consideration for the demands of
His creatures on this day.
One more thing stands out in this chapter. The Lord did not want anyone to
question whether the words He gave Moses was from Him. He made the face
of Moses shine so brightly after being in His presence, that the people were
afraid of being in the presence of Moses. We are told in verse 30: So when Aaron
and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to
come near him. People may not have liked what Moses reported from G-d, but
even his most ardent opposition could not deny that Moses gave them the
Word of G-d; it was to be taken to heart even as they claimed the promise of
mercy in this Word as humble, repentant people, willing to accept the
Covenant that their King gave them.
revelation G-d gives us concerning Himself so they do not really know the G-
d of the Scriptures. For example, He has many names that identify His being:
He is called Jah, El, Elohim, YHWH, El Shaddai, El Gibbor (Mighty G-d),
Zur (The Rock), Elizur (G-d the rock), and so forth. In Exodus 34:14, He
reveals to Moses, . . .for you shall worship no other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is
a jealous God), . . .
The message in this name of G-d is loud and clear. He is a jealous G-d who
will not share His honor or His rightful claim on the lives of those who
belong to His kingdom. He knew the nature of human beings regardless of
their nationality: they are inclined to divide their loyalties in order to follow
their passions. Their gods might be money, prestige, power, popularity, etc.
There is a long list of gods that dominate the lives of people. Though they
are false gods that exist only in the minds of their worshipers, they have a
huge impact on the lives of their followers as they draw them away from the
one true G-d.
For example, sports are good until they become one's god. When this
happens, people begin to build their lives around these sports. Nothing, even
worship of the one true G-d, can get in the way of going to the game or
watching it on television. Billions of dollars are spent on stadiums to give
their god the proper temple, special clothing, hats, etc. (One can go to a
game without making sports their god, but when one becomes so
impassioned with a sport that it takes first place in one's life, it has become
an idol.
If money becomes one's god, there is no limit to what one will do to get more
of it since the god of money is the source of happiness, pleasure. The follower
of this god will cheat, obsess with work to the point of ignoring one's family,
and exploit others to get the most wealth.
The list of gods is endless. In the case of Israel, the people had already made
a golden calf and paid a high price learning that one name of G-d is Jealous.
Historically, Israel had trouble with its people giving
Baal and Astarte at least equal standing with the one true G-d and sometimes
first priority.
The Almighty made it clear through Moses that idolatry would not be
tolerated in any form. Ex. 34:6-7 6And the Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The
Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long suffering, and abounding in goodness and truth,
7keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the
guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children’s children to the third and
the fourth generation.”
It is true that the Holy One is gracious and merciful, long suffering and
abounding in goodness and truth, but this revelation was accompanied with a
warning. Though He forgave the iniquity of His people by granting them
unmerited mercy and grace, He would not tolerate those who defied Him by
breaking His covenant wilfully. Even if the third and fourth generation
continued defying G-d's prohibition against idolatry, each generation would
know the consequences for their actions.
It never ceases to amaze me when I encounter the audacity of unbelievers
who think they are equals to G-d, having every right to insist on having a
part in creating the covenant relationship they have with the King of kings.
The Holy One never asks for the input of His creatures as He brings them His
covenant. He declares what is expected of those who are His people: either
they accept His covenant or they are counted as those who are guilty of
violating His covenant.
I have talked with those who act as if they have every right to set the terms or
conditions for G-d to be their G-d. FOOLISH PEOPLE! Every man, woman
and child will stand before the judgment seat of the Holy One to be judged
by G-d's Word: our Lord will not give any consideration for the demands of
His creatures on this day.
One more thing stands out in this chapter. The Lord did not want anyone to
question whether the words He gave Moses was from Him. He made the face
of Moses shine so brightly after being in His presence, that the people were
afraid of being in the presence of Moses. We are told in verse 30: So when Aaron
and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to
come near him. People may not have liked what Moses reported from G-d, but
even his most ardent opposition could not deny that Moses gave them the
Word of G-d; it was to be taken to heart even as they claimed the promise of
mercy in this Word as humble, repentant people, willing to accept the
Covenant that their King gave them.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|