Jealousy is a powerful emotion. When you feel jealous, you usually feel hateful and angry. So when the Bible says God is jealous (Exodus 20:5), does that mean he feels hateful and angry too?
Actually, the Bible doesn’t say that God is jealous against anyone. Instead God is jealous for someone—his people. God cares so much that he becomes upset when the way you live keeps you from experiencing his very best.
Hosea 2 shows how God’s jealousy works. God’s people were unfaithful. No matter how good God was to them, they still worshiped idols. But God continued to love his people, knowing that without him they were lost. So he took away their good things—not to destroy them, but to bring them to their senses—so that once again they would turn to him and receive his blessing.
Sometimes it can be interesting to put your name in the place of a word or name in a Bible verse. Like this verse: “The Israelites are stubborn, like a stubborn heifer. How then can the LORD pasture them like lambs in a meadow?” Now take “Israelites” out of this verse and put your name in. “_____ is stubborn. How then can the Lord bless _____?” Of course, you’re not stubborn, are you? And you don’t intend to be, right? Why would you want to pass up God’s blessing?
Q: How did Israel repay God’s fatherly love?
BONUS: How did God feel about them then?
Hosea
Betrayal.
Hosea was betrayed by his unfaithful wife. But he was told to act like God, and love her anyway, even when she was unfaithful. It hurts, but love prevails.