Yea, I think we are looking here at a semantics difference between what we see as jealosy and what was meant by the words when the were translated back in the day. God isn't jealous but it does convey the message that he doesn't like it.
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Jason (Formerly salesortonscom)
As I walk through this earth, nothing can stop, the Duke of Mirth!
Yeah, I think it only makes sense in terms of idol worship. In a way we should be grateful God has an interest in us, and doesn't want us wasting our time in pursuits that take us from the worship and true meaning of our lives...
(edit: As for us, I think it's okay to feel jealousy... I mean it tells us something. More than anything it should tell us something about the way we think, what we care about, and how we think others should treat us. If we feel jealous because a spouse is spending a lot of time with some other woman, that could be a natural indication that there's something to be concerned about. I think honestly admiting jealousy helps us realize where there may be trouble in the future...)
--Ray
PS> Interesting topic, thanks for starting it. :)
-- Edited by rayb at 14:15, 2008-02-25
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I'm not slow; I'm special. (Don't take it personally, everyone finds me offensive. Yet somehow I manage to live with myself.)
I always assumed that "I am a jealous God" was the message that people in that time period needed to hear, more than a simple translation misunderstanding.
When multiple-god-worship was the norm, it makes sense to be emphatic about "Thou shalt have no other gods before Me."
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They might not look it, but bunnies can really take care of themselves.
When I searched for "Jealous God", 9 of 12 references came from the Old Testament. The God of the OT is very often portrayed as vengeful and angry, quick to heap punishment on the children of Israel. Perhaps they needed threats to help them remember to be obedient.
Jealous in this context does not mean what we might think.
Exodus 20:5, "jealous" footnote b, states the following:
"HEB qannah, possessing sensitive and deep feelings"
In contrast to idols, which do not act, see, taste, hear, touch nor feel, our God is a real being with emotions and feelings and is capable of blessing or cursing.
