“Do not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.”
Exodus 34:14 (NIV)
In my view we can not overestimate the importance of God’s self revelation of His glory to Moses, recorded for us in Exodus 34. Moses asked God to show him His glory (Ex 33:18), and the Lord’s response was to have His goodness pass in front of Moses, as God proclaimed His own Name. We can all have our own theories about who God is,
yet in these Words God Himself sets the record straight.
yet in these Words God Himself sets the record straight.
His glory is His Name, and His glory is His goodness.
His glory (defined as that part of Him who makes Him look good) is completely wrapped up in how He treats His people. It is true that His glory is revealed in the wonders of creation, and that His glory is revealed in His ability to speak truths to us about the future.
The radiance of His glory is the Lord Jesus, He makes God’s goodness shine forth like the sun, for anyone who cares to notice.
Moses cared- He didn’t want to move anywhere until he saw the glory of God, and so we can benefit from his request, by gazing at God with Moses, in wonder at this God of compassion and grace and love and forgiveness and justice, this God who is slow in anger, and who is jealous. Yes jealous! His name is Jealous!
Not jealous in any negative sense of the word - as if God somehow has the emotional hang ups a jealous, controlling spouse might have. NO - jealous in the pure and perfect sense of the Word, our Divine Lover jealous for all our love- He wants our hearts, He wants us to love Him and Him only. This love can only be expressed to Him through our worship and our service.
His name is Jealous.
May we love Him with all our hearts!
It is the path of all blessing in our lives.
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