Date: Monday, 2nd September, 2024
Text: Exodus 34:14
Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan
Exhortation:
Jealousy and envy are not the same. You are jealous of what belongs to you. For example a husband may feel jealous when his wife gives the attention due to him to another man. Envy on the other hand is when someone is displeased with what someone else has or has achieved.
God is jealous for his own people because he loves them affectionately. He doesn’t want anything to come between him and his people. Anything else that will compete for his attention in your life is idolatry.
The Lord spoke to the Israelites saying, “Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me” Exodus 20:5
In Exodus 34 vs 14, the word of God says, “For thou shalt worship no other god: for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.”
He fights to defend his glory because he will not share it with another.
On a particular occasion king Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people. They shouted, “This is the voice of a god, not of a man.” Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died.Herod died in such a horrific way because he accepted the glory due to God- Acts 12:18-25.
Beware of sycophants that give you titles that befit the Almighty God alone. Don’t let them put you in trouble with your Maker whose name is Jealous.
Some people share testimonies in such an arrogant and boastful way that you think their testimonies were achieved by their own power.
When you achieve anything and you don’t give praise to God, it simply means that you indirectly affirm that it was achieved by your own wisdom and power. Nebuchadnezzar suffered from 7-year insanity for the same reason. After his recovery he gave praises to God but he had learnt his lessons the hard way- Daniel 4:25-35.
Reflective Nugget: It is dangerous to arrogate the glory that is due to God to yourself or another. Acknowledge and praise him always.