Exodus 34:14
Do not worship any other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.
Moses was about to allow the Israelites to enter the Promised Land, and God makes this startling statement. We tend to see jealousy as a negative, even sinful trait. But it is envy that is wrong. Envy is lusting after what belongs to another. However, jealousy has been called a fear of losing what belongs to me. All worship rightfully belongs to God, and He knows that whenever we allow anything else to take first place in our lives, it is to our detriment. So He is jealous to have us for Himself; He will not share us with any other. Only He can give us what we need, no other. He knows how vulnerable we all are to think that we know better, or that something of this world can meet our needs. But He is our all-in-all, the only One who is to come first in all our thoughts, our attitudes and our decisions.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
