When the Israelites took for granted being God's chosen people, eventually God's plan was revealed that salvation was to be offered to the gentiles - those not born in to the covenant - which in turn caused the Israelites to be jealous.
Did they stumble so as to fall beyond
recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has
come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious. But if their
transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the
Gentiles, how much greater riches will their full inclusion bring! Romans
11:11-12
It is interesting how jealousy is
used here to turn the Israelites back to God. Some of the Israelites did not
feel as special now that grace was offered to the rest of the world but through
seeing this grace played out through others, they longed to have what they may
have walked away from prior.
It is similar to watching
toddlers play. There is always one toy everyone wants to play with. It may have
been sitting on the ground most of the day but once someone picks it up, all eyes lock and all hearts crave it. Some
things just look more desirable in the hands of others.
But God is a jealous God. Jealous for
us. He wants us all of us. Setting things in front of choosing God makes his
jealousy burn. Choosing time with the television or a book or a friend or child
or husband or work over him is what idolatry
is all about. Putting things higher than God. Making other things priorities
before God, your first love.
And God loves us. He graciously unravels our hearts and knits
them in to what we were made for. He unravels our hurts and anxieties and
fears and hopes and failures and turns them in to the miraculous.
Have a listen to How He Loves Us
by Jesus Culture.
He is jealous for me
Love's like a hurricane, and I am a tree
Bending beneath the weight of His wind and mercy
Praying you would be surrounded with those who are passionate about Jesus and can drive you to the point of godly jealously, truly wanting to have a deep and passionate relationship with God, drawing you nearer to God and in turn, drawing others to Christ. Praying you would be able to spur each other on and that you would see God's compassion and mercy and love for you.
Praying you would see how much you are truly loved and how beautiful you are. Praying you would see glimpses of God in others and yourself as you go about your days and that your relationship with Christ would be the most desirable thing in your life.
Here's to jealousy and God and love.