Today’s Devotion: Numbers 5

Some of my commentary resources question why this chapter singles out a woman committing adultery and not a man. Evidently man is dealt with in in future chapters and the penalty is severe, which is stoning. One of the lessons we can take away from chapter 5 is the reference that a man is jealous for his wife. Verse 14 says, “And if feelings of jealousy come over her husband and he suspects his wife and she is impure—or if he is jealous and suspects her even though she is not impure.”  To go so far as to say that if a man truly loves his wife, he will be jealous for her – just as God is a jealous God. I conclude that jealously is a Godly quality.

Exodus 34:14 says, “Do not worship any other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.” What exactly is jealously? According to dictionary.com jealousy is a intolerant of unfaithfulness or rivalry. Hummmm…. Interesting.

In GotQuestions.org, it supports this to say, “If a husband sees another man flirting with his wife, he is right to be jealous, for only he has the right to be with his wife. This type of jealousy is not sinful. Rather, it is entirely appropriate. Being jealous for something that God declares to belong to you is good and appropriate. Jealousy is a sin when it is a desire for something that does not belong to you. Worship, praise, honor, and adoration belong to God alone, for only He is truly worthy of it.”

God desires after us and doesn’t want us to make idols and worship idols instead of giving Him the worship that belongs to Him alone. God is possessive of the worship and service that belong to Him. I’m glad God desires after you and me – He deserves our love.