James quotes "The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously" (James 4:5). Exodus 34:14 says "...for you shall worship no other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God..." Deuteronomy 4:24, 5:9, 6:15; Joshua 4:19; Ezekiel 39:15 and Nahum 1:2 all say God is a jealous God.
I have heard some bizarre teaching based on God being jealous. The will known interviewer and actress Oprah Winfrey said when she learned from her pastor that God was jealous of her, she decided this could not be true so she rejected Christianity.
But we dare not use our twenty-first definition of the word Jealous to interpret ancient text. When scripture says God is jealous over you, it does not mean he wishes he could be like you (what blaspheme). It means he guards and protects his relationship with you.
He will not tolerate his children worshiping of other gods.
