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Writer's pictureJack Selcher

Why Idolatry Makes God Angry and Jealous

Updated: Nov 2


An angry Jesus with folded arms and closed eyes with head bowed

Did you know the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is a jealous God? If not, you probably haven’t read much of the Bible. It is often stated (Deuteronomy 5:9, 6:15, 29:20, 32:16, 32:21; Joshua 24:19; Psalm 78:58, 79:5; Ezekiel 5:13, 8:3, 8:5, 16:38, 42, 23:25, 36:5, 38:19, 39:25; Joel 2:18; Nahum 1:2; Zephaniah 1:18, 3:8).


Idolatry makes God jealous and angry. Jealousy isn’t a flaw in God’s character. His jealousy isn’t like human jealousy.


Cold symptoms include a runny or stuffy nose and a scratchy or sore throat. Human jealousy is a symptom of spiritual sickness. We aren’t content with what we are or have and desire something others have that we don’t. Nothing is virtuous about it. “Anger is cruel, and wrath is like a flood, but jealousy is even more dangerous” (Proverbs 27:4 NLT).


More than one in 10 cases of women being murdered in the U.S. involves jealousy or a lovers' triangle.1 Strangers aren’t the greatest threat. It’s the people with whom we have relationships.


Human jealousy is consistently condemned. “For I can see that you are full of bitter jealousy and are held captive by sin” (Acts 8:23 NLT). Jealousy demonstrates that our sinful nature is controlling us (1 Corinthians 3:3, Galatians 5:20). “For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind” (James 3:16 NLT).


How is God’s jealousy different from ours? Why is jealousy okay for Him but not for us? God is jealous. “You must worship no other gods, for the Lord, whose very name is Jealous, is a God who is jealous about his relationship with you” (Exodus 34:14 NLT). “The Lord your God is a devouring fire; he is a jealous God” (Deuteronomy 4:24 NLT).


God’s jealousy isn’t like ours. He is eternally righteous and the only one worthy of our ultimate love, commitment, worship, and admiration, like two plus two, equals four.


Our jealousy focuses on something we love that doesn’t belong to us. God’s jealousy on what He loves, and belongs to Him, is His due but is being withheld.


His is a jealous love for people. His jealousy springs from the great love that sent His Son to the cross to die for our sins. He did it so He could have a relationship with us and yet remain eternally righteous. He has invested a lot in us and deserves our eternal gratitude.


His is a jealous love. “Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm. For love is as strong as death, its jealousy as enduring as the grave. Love flashes like fire, the brightest kind of flame” (Song of Solomon 8:6 NLT).


Paul wrote, “For I am jealous for you with the jealousy of God himself. I promised you as a pure bride to one husband—Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:2). A pure bride has no love that competes with her love for her husband.


We offend and anger God when we treat Him as so insignificant, unsatisfying, and irrelevant that we search for contentment elsewhere. We also anger Him and hurt ourselves by building our lives on an unworthy foundation that will ultimately collapse. That is why idolatry angers God. #freediscipleshipresources #freeevangelismresources #freechristianleadershipresources 



See free spiritual growth resources for Christians at https://www.christiangrowthresources.com


God has empowered me to write “His Power for Your Weakness—260 Steps Toward Spiritual Strength.” It’s a free evangelistic, devotional, and discipleship eBook. Pastors have used it in Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia to lead more than 2,400 people to Christ and teach the basics of Christianity to 5,217 people. I invite you to check it out. https://www.christiangrowthresources.com/his-power-for-your-weakness


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