We know that jealousy can cause rage that may be misdirected. It may cause murder. Many persons believe jealousy drove O. J. Simpson, the star football player and celebrity, to murder his former wife and her suitor. He was found innocent in trial, but guilty of influence in another trial. Found guilty of a crime that involved different violations he went to prison where, at this writing, he is serving a lengthy sentence. A highly regarded athlete, he has lost the respect of the public world, likely caused by reputed jealousy. Ezekiel noted a jealousy that provokes jealousy. (8:3) Jealousy needs management. To accuse a mate of an affair if no affair has occurred is related to jealousy – false made real, itself requiring forgiveness – both self-forgiveness and the forgiveness of those affected by it. Some questions related to exclusivism in Christian faith (as also appears in other faiths) must be understood in part by righteous jealousy of deity. The Apostle Paul understood the principle, and commented on it. (Roman 10:19; 11:11; I Corinthians 10:22)
The jealousy of God drives one to devotion, because we sense that if God is jealous it is based on high regard for faithfulness, especially related to his relationship with mankind. Because God is faithful there is legitimacy for his jealousy if the object of it has been unfaithful. In other words, the guilt of legitimate jealousy is on unfaithful persons who impose it. Mankind would have right to be jealous in relationship to God if God were not faithful and loving. Righteous jealousy is a factor of love. It would be violation of truth not to have purity of jealousy (suffering) in such a context. Jealousy for the right, rightly controlled, ought to register for mankind. The only time Jesus demonstrated God’s judgment in angered response during his ministry was at the Temple where the money changers had usurped the meaning of the sacred house of God, so to distract the people from the purpose, and from the locale where only the love and care of God was to be demonstrated and declared. (My guess is that the lash did not strike any persons, and the ducking away from Christ’s outburst was effective to avoid physical pain, but the flying whip hit tables, scattered money and products – creating some chaos. There were enough persons in attendance that they could have restrained him rather easily in human course, but nothing was done. There was something of miracle in the event. We do not develop natural theory from miracle.) The demonstration by Jesus was not an example of the way in which we might manage the course of our jealousy for God. God is quite able to care for himself. An angel army available to Jesus from his deity could make human soldiers seem as toys. The event as it appears is intriguing and unique in the larger record of events relating faithfulness.
One major reason for the theme of this page is to understand the place of jealousy in world and life events. A careful analysis of the tensions, relationships and negotiations, even to the point of warfare between nations is related in some way to jealousy. It is likely that the most impressive reason for the ill feelings between leaders of some nations and the United States is in the jealousy of the position of the States in relation to matters of the power, materialism, orientation, and context of lifestyle in contrast to this or that nation. That jealousy is partly lost in other motivations, as democracy against autocracy, but nations would go far in gaining cooperation if they could reduce the spirit of jealousy that fosters tensions, and may keep those tensions virulent. If we look carefully at the words of Hitler, and his conduct, we would find that jealousy growing out of the events following the World War I Armistice and treaty of peace, combined with revenge for the defeat in warfare, was a major force in his follies. The force and power of jealousy must be reckoned with in mankind perhaps beginning with sibling rivalry in children. It is likely that jealousy is a highly aggressive opponent in families, as illustrated in the first murder of brother, Abel, by Cain, and that in wrong self-jealousy about God. Cain’s jealousy sometimes is made to be ours. It may begin as early as a three years old child is confronted with a new brother or sister. Godly jealousy relates to the exclusiveness of God. A sign of maturity whether Christian or natural in context, is faithfulness to right in all matters. Jealousy, an exotic factor, must be faced in truth. We sense a healthiness of self when we rightly manage jealousy. Jealousy for God is rightly a part of us. *Mark W. Lee, Sr. — 2016, 2020