Have you ever played a word association game? Word association is an interesting way to see how a person categorises and connects different ideas, feelings, experiences, and information. When I say a particular word, what is the very first thought that comes to your mind? For instance, if I say “dog,” you might think “cat.” If I say “heart,” you might think “Love".

What if I said “God”? What would be your first thought? “Good”? “Loving”? “Kind”? “Awesome”? How about this one: Jealous? Moses was a man who spoke with God face-to-face as a man speaks to his friend and in Moses gives an urgent command to the children of Israel, saying, “But you shall destroy their altars, dash in pieces their pillars and cut down their Asherim; for you shall worship no other god; for the Lord, Whose name is Jealous, is a jealous (impassioned) God” (amp). Notice the emphasis Moses places on the jealousy of God. Not only is He a jealous God; that is His very name.

You don’t hear this preached very often about God, but it would do us well to remember this part of His personality that is so significant it is actually His name. His name is Jealous! Jealous is not willing to share your heart with another lover. Jealous cannot be appeased by your “throwing Him a bone” on Sunday morning. Jealous is not OK with things in your life that crowd Him out. Jealous isn’t oblivious when you’re flirting with the world. Jealous wants your heart—all of it—for Himself.