In this Names of God reading plan, we are learning more about God by studying the names given to Him in Scripture. Rather than having our writers share their own reflections on these passages, we’ve instead provided research-rich content to aid in your study of each day’s featured name of God, including the background of the name(s), a brief explanation of the character of God emphasized by the name(s), and a reflection question to help you dig deeper into the text.
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Jealous God
El Qanna (Hebrew)
Scripture Reading: Exodus 20:4-6, Exodus 34:10-16, Deuteronomy 4:23-24, Joshua 24:14-20, Nahum 1:1-6, 1 Corinthians 10:14-22
Description
God called Himself a “jealous God” in Exodus 20 when He spoke to Moses at Mount Sinai. This name reminds us that God does not take lightly nor tolerate our wandering hearts. He alone is worthy of our worship and praise, and He will not share it with another.
Scripture presents God as jealous for His deity, His sovereignty, and His glory. Throughout the Old Testament, God uses this name to emphasize that He alone is God, and He alone is holy and worthy of our worship.
Emphasis
God’s right to be the only object of worship
Reflection
What does this name teach me about God?
Reading all those scriptures at once makes it even more clear that God wants ALL of our attention, devotion, & adoration. There’s no half-way about serving the Lord!
But also the magnificence of His power: “5The mountains quake before Him,
and the hills melt;
the earth trembles at His presence —
the world and all who live in it.”
The issues in my life that start becoming hills can be melted down before they become mountains, when I call out to the Lord!
God wants my heart. Completely devoted to him and no one or nothing else.
God is slow to anger but also full of wrath and a jealous God. It’s easier for me to see God as merciful and loving however if I truly want to know him I have to see this side of him too. He is God. Not human. He is worthy of total devotion. It makes me wonder what idols I have right now. What do I worship and put before him. My marriage? My phone? Comfort? Financial security? I want to repent for being more consumed by those things. Lord please forgive me and I want to experience more of your consuming fire. I want to fully know you and be fully known by you. Amen.
Beautifully said! I want to experience more of His consuming fire as well!
Just let y’all know the infographic for the verse has the wrong number. It should be 24 not 94
I really feel the wandering heart part. I have loved the Lord since I was a child but since my teenager years I have wandered away. I think about the pure joyful way I loved the Lord as a child and I want to be that way every day as an adult. I am working on not making the things I want and relationships I have more important than my God.
“Fiercely protective or vigilant of one’s rights or possessions. Protective, vigilant, watchful, needful, mindful, careful, solicitous.” Online dictionary, definition 3.
I have always been a Christian, always known where my heart lies truly, but there were several years where I know my heart was not thirsting for my Jealous God like it should have been. Recently, I have been re-devoting myself to worshipping him every day, devoting myself to educating my family about his love, and getting back into a new church that I absolutely love. I know that he is powerful and longing for relationship with us. But when life clouds the bond, it can get messy and we are unable to devote to him 100%. I hope that I can always remember to put Him first. Forgive my wandering heart, Lord!
That’s awesome, Parker! I know hes proud of you.
14For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:
Never saw that name