I'm thankful that God is jealous. I know that sounds a little strange but I like it. Reading through these verses in Nahum causes me to feel closer to God as it talks about His jealousy and anger and vengeance. God is jealous for me. He's jealous for you. What's more, He doesn't want anything interfering with our quality of life. Those who violate His principles bring consequences of pain and suffering and brokenness and evil into the world around us.
There's a lot of injustice in the world. Recently I mentioned the news that broke a couple weeks ago about a nine year girl who was taken from her bed while she slept. They found her body. She had been raped and strangled with a goat lead. The perpetrators turned out to be her step father and a friend of his. The sentiment toward these vile men throughout the region is disgust, anger, and hatred. I've heard countless of citizens offering ideas for punishment (or torture in some cases) for these two. Somehow, jail seems to be too good for them.
Sadly, cases such as Rowan Ford's are all too common in our society. A lot of attention right now is being drawn to Darfur and the genocide that's going on there. But it isn't the only place in Africa where such evil is taking place. Senseless racial/ethnic killings have also in recent years been witnessed in Bosnia and Serbia and Iraq and Indonesia and the Philippines. Oppression and slavery still exists in multiple places around the world.
I'm thankful that God won't let the guilty people off the hook. He'll make them suffer the consequences of their actions. He'll settle the score. He'll inflict the appropriate punishment. I'd like to give God a little advice or a few suggestions on how to deal with those who commit such violent, cruel acts but I don't think He needs it.
We don't like to think of God as a vengeful God. Like Will Ferrell/Ricky Bobby, in Talladega Nights, we like the idea of the sweet little baby Jesus the best. We like God all cuddly and warm and lovable, non-threatening. Yet take a quick look at Jesus in the temple turning over tables and driving the cheating swindlers out with a whip and you might get a different picture.
What we often don't realize is that God is a jealous God toward us. He loves us and He wants our love. He wants a relationship with us. He created us for a relationship with Himself. He doesn't want anything interfering with that relationship. Those who disobey, who work against Him must be dealt with severely because of His just and righteous nature.
The good news is that the enemy of sin has been defeated. That which ultimately separates us will be destroyed at Christ's second coming. In the meantime He's passionately pursuing us to live in eternity with Him.
God, I'm thankful you're a jealous God. I'm thankful you want the best for me. I'm thankful you want me. I'm thankful that one day you're going to settle the score. I'm thankful you are just and loving at the same time. You've already taken care of my sin problem and guilt problem through your Son, Jesus. Thanks for making things right.
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