THE JEALOUS GOD

God described himself as a jealous god.  In Exodus 34:14, he said “for you shall worship no other god, for the LORD whose name is Jealous is a jealous God. 

He means that he will not tolerate the worship of idols or any type of false gods.  He is especially jealous of the worship of his own people.  That is why the very first commandment of the covenant law is “you shall have no other gods before (or besides) me”. (Exodus 20:3).  He must be the only object of your worship.

That is why he told Israel to break down all the images and altars of pagan gods when they arrived in Canaan.  He did not want them tempted to worship those gods.  It is why he told them not to marry foreign women who had not converted.  He knew they would lead them into idolatry.  Solomon proved the truth of this by worshipping with his man foreign wives. 

And so, in Jeremiah 2, God accuses Israel of infidelity, of unfaithfulness.  He redeemed them from slavery in Egypt and gave them their own land.  Yet, the worshipped the gods of many nations.  Therefore, he would bring them to judgment. (Jeremiah 2:35).

God does not change.  He is the same.  He is still a jealous God.

He is also merciful.  He provided a Savior in Jesus Christ.  But because he is a jealous God, he still demands exclusive worship.  Therefore, Jesus is the only way to salvation. 

Jesus said so himself.  He said “I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) He did not say he is “a way” but “the way”.  There is one savior and one path to salvation. 

Peter preached a sermon on it.  He said “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”  (Acts 4:12) 

To be saved, to have eternal life, you must believe this.  Paul put it this way.  He said “if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  For with the heart one believes and is justified and with the mouth one confesses and it saved.” (Romans 10:9-10)

It is popular today to say there are many ways to heaven.  Someone may even call you arrogant for saying there is one way only.  But you are not arrogant.  You are faithful to a jealous God who will not tolerate the worship of other gods. 

So believe and be firm.