The Abrahamic God is described in the Bible as a “Jealous God” 31 times and as an “Angry God” 238 times. The word “fear” is used 455 times in the Bible; many of these citations are by God Himself. An example of how do Christians justify a Jealous God and reconcile Him with a loving God is provided in a blog written by Jason titled “I, The Lord your God, Am A Jealous God.” The blog begins by quotations from Bible depicting a jealous God as follows:
Exodus 20:5: “You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate Me…”
Exodus 34:14: “Do not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.”
Deuteronomy 4:24: “For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.”
Joshua 24:19: “Joshua said to the people, ‘You are not able to serve the LORD. He is a holy God; He is a jealous God. He will not forgive your rebellion and your sins.’”
Nahum 1:2: “The LORD is a jealous and avenging God;…”
Jason then asks if God is a jealous God, then how can it be reconciled with 1 Corinthians 13:4 which says, “love…is not jealous”? Surely if love is not jealous, and God is jealous, then God cannot be considered loving. Jason argues that jealousy is not always bad and can be a good thing depending on the situation. He further argues that the word “jealous” is translated in the New Testament from the Greek word zelos, which has a good connotation. Jason then continues that human beings are spiritually married to God and jealousy in marriage is a good thing. Jason concludes by saying that he is very comfortable with the idea of God being jealous.
This is not the right approach and the author has responded as follows:
“Jason, you found it very comforting knowing your God is a jealous—and for you! If your God was not “jealous” and “angry,” and instead was a loving God, why will you not feel comfortable?
Mahatma Gandhi spent plenty of time in churches to learn about Christianity, but he found “love” in Lord Krishna. Is your God going to be jealous of Gandhi’s God? On the Judgment Day, what will be the fate of Gandhi? Tell me what is more important… Gandhi’s good work (karma) or which God he prayed to?
Amongst the different Gods (or Godlike figures) such as the LORD God of Israel, God the Father, Allah, Jehovah, Krishna, Goddess Lakshmi, elephant God-Ganesh, Mahavir and Buddha, which of these listed God(s) are “other gods” or “idols” will your God be jealous from?
What is wrong in having liberty to pray to God as one desires? Jews feel holy in Israel and not in Saudi Arabia. Muslims pray only in the direction of the Kaaba (Black Cube) to reach Allah, even though Allah is in all directions. Christians have a little more liberty and believe in the Holy Trinity, 3 forms of God. Catholic churches are full of manly and womanly figures, photos and wooden or Golden Crosses… are these not “idols” or “graven images?” Even Hindus, who believe that there is one absolutely Supreme Reality, have the liberty to express God in whatever form they wish to see Him/Her. Why would (any) God want to take away the liberty of praying to Him or Her in any way one desires?”
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