Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Hi there, dear people.

Becki and I did out little walk/jog routine in the rain. It’s still raining. She’s now gone to the Bible Study session she leads at an assisted living center in Woodburn—Country Meadows. Thano called in SICK to Safeway as he has succumbed to a cold/flu (?).

I was doing OK reading my Bible this morning…even reading about the sad speedy theological deterioration of the Israelites surrounding their making the golden calf…until I got to that part where the Levites were instructed to go through the camp and use a sword to massacre the guilty. Gulp. That’s pretty hard to visualize. However, I don’t have to wonder what God’s attitude is toward people rebelling against Him and chasing after false belief systems…especially those for whom He has done much…and especially when He is right there wanting to reveal Himself to those who will seek Him…toward establishing personal relationship.

Moving right along…lots of stuff is awaiting my attention. Blessings on your day.

Love, Dad/Ray.

I am a married man—45 years. I won’t attempt to deal with the broad spectrum psycho-spiritual factors that make up this relationship, but I have to acknowledge that a core ingredient in our relationship together is that we are both committed to exclusivity. And commitment by both is required. A form of deep heart-level jealousy is linked to that commitment. I may be regarded by many as old-fashioned in my thinking, but I confess that my anger could be seriously aroused (as could my wife’s if it were the other way around) if I knew some other man was trying to mess around with my wife—or my wife was messing around with another man.

Most likely you resonate with my confession. If so, we should have no difficulty comprehending the jealousy of God and the potential anger it bears—much bigger than mine. If He is the Exclusive One and Only God, why would anyone think He would be OK with people messing around with other gods?!?!—who are really non-gods. He has created humans to have personal exclusive intimate relationship with Him alone, and that by their own choosing. And get this from the next two verses (34:15-16)—when people choose otherwise and engage in the pursuit of other gods for the superior benefits they think they can get, God calls it PROSTITUTION.

Suddenly it occurs to me that here lies the primary conflict between sinful man and Holy God—JEALOUSY. God is jealous of man’s commitment, and man is jealous of his freedom from that commitment—the mindset of SIN.

Warning: DON’T MESS AROUND WITH GOD’S JEALOUSY.