Jealous for Us
For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God. Deuteronomy 4:24
When you hear the word jealousy, you might think of moments like when your childhood best friend started spending time with another classmate. Maybe it was when someone you cared about began showing interest in someone else. Perhaps it was the feeling that surfaced when a coworker received the promotion you hoped for, or when a neighbor pulled into the driveway with a brand-new car.
In situations like these, jealousy is a very human emotion that can cause significant harm if left unchecked. It is often fueled by insecurity, envy, or selfishness, and it tends to grow out of fear, comparison, or pride.
What you probably did not think of was God. However, Exodus 34:14 says, “because the Lord is jealous for his reputation, you are never to bow down to another god. He is a jealous God.” He is known as El Qanna, a Hebrew word meaning “jealous” or “zealous”. This name occurs six times in the Old Testament and describes God’s passionate, protective, and devoted love for His people. It signifies God’s demand for exclusive devotion and His righteous zeal to protect His people from idolatry and spiritual harm.
In Exodus 32, Moses had been on Mount Sinai for forty days, and during his absence, the people grew impatient. Wanting a god they could see and follow, they asked Aaron to make one for them. Aaron gathered their gold jewelry, melted it down, and fashioned a golden calf, which the people then worshiped.
It’s easy for us to read about the Israelites and shake our heads. We might think, How could they be so foolish? After everything God had done for them, delivering them from slavery in Egypt, parting the Red Sea, and providing food in the wilderness, how could they turn so quickly to something like a golden calf? Why was it so difficult for them to worship God alone?
But if we’re honest, their story is not that different from ours.
Idolatry is not just about bowing down to a statue. It happens whenever we give something else the place in our hearts that belongs to God. Any time we put something ahead of Him, such as our approval from others, success, comfort, possessions, relationships, or even our own desires, we are giving our allegiance to something other than the Lord. In that moment, we are doing the same thing the Israelites did: looking to something created instead of the Creator.
By Exodus 34, God has renewed His covenant with Israel after this failure. Even though the people had turned to another “god,” the Lord graciously restored the relationship. At the same time, He made it clear that their worship and devotion must belong to Him alone. He commanded them to destroy every monument of idolatry, not to participate in any idolatrous feasts, and not to interact with the other inhabitants of the land because they worshipped other gods. This is proof that God is patient with His people.
Our hearts naturally drift, but just as He continued to pursue and restore Israel, He patiently calls us back when our hearts wander. Each time we recognize that we have left God out or turned to other things, we have the opportunity to turn again to the One who alone is worthy of our worship. He lovingly welcomes us back again and again.
His jealousy is actually an expression of His love, guarding us from harm and settling for lesser things. This means our response should not be casual or divided. God is not looking for partial allegiance or occasional attention; He desires wholehearted devotion. We should be passionately committed to Him, which means choosing Him daily. It reminds us that our worship matters.
El Qanna exhibits a passionate, sacrificial love for his people, proven by Jesus' death on the cross. He refuses to share the devotion that rightly belongs to Him alone. He alone is worthy of worship. And, He is jealous for us!
Call to Action
What are some things that compete for your devotion to God? What steps will you take to remove these from your life?
How can you avoid the potential drift away from God and toward other things to fill that void?
Spend some time this week alone with the Lord, confessing your sins, acknowledging who God is, and worshipping Him.
If you are dealing with jealousy as a human emotion, stop to name it, put an end to it, and keep it in check.
Digging Deeper
Here are some verses around the jealousy of God: Exodus 20:5, Deuteronomy 4:24, Nahum 1:2, Isaiah 42:8, Joshua 24:19. Here are stories of jealousy in the Bible and their disastrous consequences: Cain and Abel in Genesis 4, Rachel and Leah in Genesis 30, Joseph and his brothers in Genesis 37, King Saul and David in 1 Samuel 18.
Prayer
Lord, thank You for loving me so much that You pursue my heart and want what is best for me. You alone are worthy of my worship. Forgive me for the times my heart drifts toward other things. Help me to keep You first in my life.
Copyright © 2026 Kyle Cravens