Some people have a problem with God. They feel that He is arrogant, conceited, and will fly into a rage when any of His followers dares to give any attention to another so-called god. After all, the very first of the Ten Commandments is “You shall have no other gods before Me.” And the second goes right along with it about not worshiping idols and images. Is God really so insecure? These commands (and similar ones throughout the Bible) are not born out of insecurity. Rather, they are born out of His love. He knows that these other “gods” do not truly exist and can do nothing to benefit humanity. His jealousy is a natural result of His passionate love and concern for our well-being.
We refer to God as our “heavenly Father,” much like Jesus did. But the picture of God’s relationship to His chosen people is not of a parent but a husband. This metaphor is clearly (and painfully) seen in the minor prophet Hosea as well as in the New Testament (Ephesians 5:25; Revelation 19:7). The jealousy of God is that of a husband seeking to prevent His “wife” from giving herself to other lovers. He knows they will not love her as He does and will only harm and abuse her. God’s jealousy is not that of a celebrity seeking adoring fans. It is the reaction of a heartbroken husband whose beloved has abandoned Him for a womanizer.
Atheists claim that God is an egomaniac who craves and demands constant worship and praise to feed His insecurity. It is significant that nowhere in Scripture does God command praise. The call to praise comes from God’s grateful servants. In the Bible, it is those who have seen God’s worthiness of praise who call upon their fellow humans to offer it. God commands obedience and holiness, but He never commands us to feed His ego. Even these commands of obedience and holiness are not for His benefit, but for our well-being and happiness. The God of the universe seems only to be concerned about us, His beloved.
It seems a strange thing to call the Supreme Being in the universe “humble.” But God is indeed humble. Who would He need to impress? Whose approval does He need to seek? The humility of God is proven by His actions in the human world. The ultimate power in the universe took on a weak, frail, human body so that we might see His level of devotion for us. He was willing to die a shameful and horrifying death on a cross just to give us a chance at eternal life. What other “god” in history or mythology has humbled himself to such a degree? None. Let us praise the Lord who loves us so dearly. May the Lord shine upon you.
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