The Devil is a Homewrecker

_{This is a deep-dive on what divine jealousy—which is righteous—looks like and is not to be mistaken for human jealousy that’s often used synonymously with envy—which is not righteous—because it is sinful. The devil corrupts what is good. (This was originally written for a class at Phoenix Seminary)}

James 4:4–7 (ESV):

⁴ You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. ⁵ Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? ⁶ But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” ⁷ Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

RIGHTEOUS JEALOUSY OF GOD

This Scripture passage clearly states that being in-step with the world is cheating on God (James 4:4) through a marriage metaphor.^[1] The question, “Do you not know…” is asked almost incredulously, implying that this is something the hearer ought to know. If this is correct, then it pointedly quashes all arguments of having accidentally cheated on God—making it appear as though it were an impossibility. This is a conscious decision where one weds themself to God but refuses to put on the wedding band in front of another potential suitor. This is wrong in the sight of God. It would make any onlooker think the marriage is a sham—and rightfully so! John Calvin observes, “This is like a shameless woman who brings an adulterer before her husband’s very eyes only to vex his mind the more.”^[2]

Now why would the devil flee from someone who is resisting him? (James 4:7) If Christians were issued wedding bands for their marriage to God, then faithful disciples of Christ can claim that their wedding band always stays on their finger—yet why do the faithful still get unwelcome advances from the things of this world? Why does a faithful marriage to Christ become a call for temptation to unceasingly knock on our door? Why are all Christians constantly surrounded with temptations everywhere they look? Perhaps the key is in submitting oneself to God. The devil is not fleeing from Christians because of who they are. The devil is fleeing from their jealous spouse^[3] (James 4:5). God is protecting what belongs to him. If a Christian has truly submitted everything to God, then that person belongs to God. (James 4:7)

“faithful disciples of Christ can claim that their wedding band always stays on their finger“

JEALOUS  DEVIL VS. JEALOUS GOD

Some might even say the devil himself is jealous of the elevated status Christians have with God. At this point, it should be acknowledged that there can be jealously without love^[4]—but the devil’s jealousy is an abhorrent mockery of the divine jealously of God. Jealousy without love is sinful jealousy. The devil wants to take away this favor not so he can enjoy it for himself, but rather, so that no one else can have what he cannot have. Christians should see the devil for what he really is—a homewrecker. What do homewreckers do? They tantalize and tempt and make empty promises while trying to lead your heart astray. In the end, a broken and shamed Christian is not the devil’s prize. His reward is a broken relationship with God. No matter what Satan offers—wealth, power, or popularity—these are not prizes to take home and be proud of. These are prizes received for not being faithful. At the end of the day, who really wants to bring these gifts home anyway? Rewards for sinful behavior are not rewards at all. Ask Judas—they are curses (Matthew 27:1-10). Satan takes Christians out of the loving embrace of God because he is jealous—though prideful arrogance blinds him to this (James 4:6).

“Christians should see the devil for what he really is—a homewrecker.“

The devil cannot steal the inheritance for himself or by himself (1 John 5:18) so he needs to recruit adulterers away from being true and loyal to God—enticing weak-hearted lovers away from their divine spouse—using trickery just as Jacob did to Esau (Genesis 25:32-34). Renouncing his birthright inheritance over a bowl of stew illustrates how much Esau despised God’s covenant to Abraham—being nothing less than a total rejection of God and his promises—which sparked God’s jealous wrath. No wonder God hated Esau (Malachi 1:3). The devil tries to destroy what every Christian has so that no one can enjoy God—being the true God-hater who seeks disciples of his own by stealing them away from God. Whether the devil tempts a person to cheat on their spouse or God himself hardens the already sinful heart of his temptress bride (Romans 9:18), it is ultimately the bride who is deeply and passionately in love with God would never cheat on God. Anyone with a wife like that would be fully justified in their jealousy to protect her no matter what.

“the bride who is deeply and passionately in love with God would never cheat on God.“

SUBMIT TO RESIST

Submission to God (James 4:7) requires a selfless heart. What does selfless submission to God look like? It is pleasing God without concern for personal gain. It should be greatly humbling when one gives away everything knowing none of it was theirs to begin with (James 4:6). Although giving away all to God (Luke 14:33) is to be counted as gain (Philippians 3:7), it is only returning what already belongs to him (Psalm 24:1). Everything belongs to God to do with as he pleases. Joy should come from seeing his delight when his commandments are obeyed—and he multiplies that joy a thousand-fold through his love. When everything is given to God, he is going to give it all back and more—much, much more (Matthew 25:21). There is security that comes from loving God. He is the one who is always there—listening, guiding, and giving exhortation—training all those who submit to do his will. There is security in knowing that God’s love is constant and never-ending. There is only one thing that needs to be done to have the ability to resist the devil: submit to God wholly and completely and do not hold back anything, not even a little. God would know—and his jealousy is all consuming (Deuteronomy 4:24).

“There is only one thing that needs to be done to have the ability to resist the devil: submit to God“

Resistance to the devil does not come from within. Resistance is a result of submitting to God. God gave all Christians the power and authority to resist all temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13, ESV). Since submitting to God gives Christians the ability to resist the devil, complete and absolute submission to God is the only reason the devil flees from any proclaimed follower of Christ. If one’s heart belongs to God, then no one else can stake claim to it or cause it to waiver in devotion to their one true love.

GOD IS JEALOUS FOR HIS GLORY

2 Peter 1:17,19 ESV

¹⁷For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” ¹⁹And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts

Isaiah 42:8 (ESV, 2001) “I am the Lord; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols.”

Isaiah 43:7 (ESV, 2001) “everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”

The verses above indicate that glory is the shining beauty of all of God’s attributes.^[5] Since humanity’s creation, its existence is solely to honor God’s glory. Since God is jealous for his glory, then God is jealous for, fights for, and protects all of humanity like a good shepherd. He is jealous for his honor as well^[6]—since humanity honors God by obeying his commandments. Above all else, it must never be forgotten that God is jealous for his glory—for it is glory that emanates from the character of God—which is the eternal beauty that manifests from the entirety of God’s attributes. Any glory we see in ourselves or throughout the earth is borrowed from God’s glory, and eventually it will fade away only to return to its source. God is the source of all glory that never fades. All of creation exists to glorify God. When we start to think otherwise or if we start to claim that the glory belongs to us, or toss aside his glory for that of another, that is when God becomes jealous.

“Since God is jealous for his glory, then God is jealous for, fights for, and protects all of humanity like a good shepherd. “

Which person of God is jealous for his glory? There are no differences in attributes between the different persons of the Trinity^[7]. How these attributes relate to each other and to the creation are different. The jealousy of the Father is different than that of the Son and both are different than that of the Holy Spirit. As the bridegroom, Jesus can be jealous differently than the Father, and the Spirit’s^[8] (James 4:5) jealousy over us can be relationally different than that of the Father or of the Son. There is diversity of divine attributes among the different persons of the Trinity.^[9] Bruce Ware does not consider the divine attributes of God’s character to be anthropomorphisms,^[10] but J.I. Packer’s stance is that they are^[11]—perhaps as a way to dismiss the negative connotations involved with man’s understanding of jealousy. 

FIRST COMMANDMENT WITH A [MOSAIC COVENANT] PROMISE

The second commandment in Exodus 20:5-6 makes the first generalized promise^[12] to a category of people: “[…] I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.” Without question, this is a promise of wrath to those who worship false idols or steadfast love to those who love God and keep his commandments. There is a contrary position to this promise as well. It can also be regarded as the first promise that is more personal in nature—promising curses or blessings to one’s family versus the entire nation^[13]—which appears to be a Mosaic covenant (Deuteronomy 11:26-28). It is notable that those who do worship false idols are categorized as God-haters and it is the only commandment that gives an attribute of God’s character as justification for promises made. No other commandment makes any mention of God’s attributes.

“those who do worship false idols are categorized as God-haters“

Later in Exodus, thousands of Israelites were slaughtered by the sons of Aaron as payment for their transgressions with the golden calf. This is proof of God’s promise to visit iniquity [presumably with wrath] to those who hate him. It was because of Moses’ intercession that God relented from his promised wrath. This was a spectacular display of God’s amazing grace and abundant mercy—which is the direct result of God remaining true to all attributes of his character. Moses appealed to God’s character of loving kindness—knowing that God is also a holy and righteous judge—and he did this to save the people of Israel in the midst of God’s jealousy. This intimates that God is all of his attributes combined, at all times. To be clear, since God is love and God is jealous, he is not one attribute separate from the other depending on the circumstance—he is both attributes (and more) at once. Jealousy guards the honor and glory of the LORD.

The Mosaic covenant was obviously not able to be followed, thus presenting a need for a new covenant. The intercessor for the new covenant who stood in the path of God’s promised wrath was Jesus. Just as Moses was the only one who could perform this task for the ancient Israelites, Jesus is the only one who could take this burden upon himself to appease God’s promised wrath—a wrath that is a direct result of God’s righteous jealousy. Humanity, through our sinful nature, has been stained as an adulteress and God has become a lover scorned, angry at being unloved—even hated—then being cast aside and dishonored. It is a feeling of tremendous hurt and disappointment that can just as easily turn into deadly wrath towards the unrepentant or loving forgiveness when we crawl back on our knees with genuine remorse.

“God has become a lover scorned, angry at being unloved—even hated—then being cast aside and dishonored.“

SCRIPTURAL SUPPORT TO CLARIFY UNDERSTANDING

In order to understand what God’s jealousy actually encompasses and how it is apportioned to those found deserving, it is important see notable references of jealousy involving God throughout other verses in Scripture. “Jealous” occurs in 28 verses in the ESV, “Jealousy” occurs in 38 verses in the ESV, and “Jealously” occurs once in the ESV. In bold are ideas commonly associated with jealousy.

Numbers 25:11 ESV — “Phinehas the son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, has turned back my wrath from the people of Israel, in that he was jealous with my jealousy among them, so that I did not consume the people of Israel in my jealousy.”   Deuteronomy 4:24 ESV — For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.   Deuteronomy 6:15 ESV — for the LORD your God in your midst is a jealous God—lest the anger of the LORD your God be kindled against you, and he destroy you from off the face of the earth.   Nahum 1:2 ESV — The LORD is a jealous and avenging God; the LORD is avenging and wrathful; the LORD takes vengeance on his adversaries and keeps wrath for his enemies.   Zechariah 8:2 ESV — “Thus says the LORD of hosts: I am jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I am jealous for her with great wrath.

Psalm 79:5 ESV — How long, O LORD? Will you be angry forever? Will your jealousy burn like fire?   Song of Songs 8:6 ESV — Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm, for love is strong as death, jealousy is fierce as the grave. Its flashes are flashes of fire, the very flame of the LORD.   Ezekiel 5:13 ESV — “[…] I will vent my fury upon them and satisfy myself. And they shall know that I am the LORD—that I have spoken in my jealousy—when I spend my fury upon them.   Ezekiel 16:38 ESV — And I will judge you as women who commit adultery and shed blood are judged, and bring upon you the blood of wrath and jealousy.   2 Corinthians 11:2 ESV — For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.

The jealousy of God can be considered the attribute with the most severe consequence if triggered negatively—so severe, in fact, that it becomes a reason for death. What happens when iniquity is paid a visit from God? Iniquity can be defined as sin, transgression, evil, vile, obscene, and grossly immoral. God is love. When a lover is spurned, jealous wrath is the result. Love cannot be a true expression of who God is without jealousy. The two go hand in hand—each divine attribute protects and balances the other. When God visits iniquity, it is not a cordial house call—it is death knocking at the door. Just as the bottom of a man’s foot can feel every grain of sand in his shoe no matter how tiny it is, the honor of God can feel every transgression made against it regardless of how small. Can the jealousy of God be triggered positively to attain an equally powerful opposite consequence? Yes. This is best illustrated through the new covenant. Everlasting life for those who reciprocate steadfast love to God through his son Jesus in obedient submission to his will.

“Just as the bottom of a man’s foot can feel every grain of sand in his shoe no matter how tiny it is, the honor of God can feel every transgression made against it regardless of how small.“

APPLICATION: THE ONLY MARRIAGE WITH A HAPPILY EVER AFTER

What does God’s jealous love do for believers in Christ? It allows us to truly know and experience this remarkable and absolutely powerful attribute of God. It makes us feel not just desired but pursued. It is a divine example showing each of us how we are supposed to love. Not just expressing love as a warm and fuzzy feeling in our tummies, but truly exampling love as being an insatiable zeal^[14] for God. It is upon this realization that any Christian should fall head over heels in love with Jesus—knowing that Jesus belongs to each one of us just as much as we belong to him. It goes far beyond a strong desire to reciprocate his love for us—because at this point, it becomes a need to love him just as much as he loves us through obedient submission to his will. He is the vine and without him we would all wither and die. This is how we, as Christians, are to abide in his love (John 15:4, ESV).

“any Christian should fall head over heels in love with Jesus—knowing that Jesus belongs to each one of us just as much as we belong to him.“

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[1] K. Erik Thoennes, Godly Jealousy: A Theology of Intolerant Love (Scotland: Christian Focus, 2005), 128.

[2] Jean Calvin, John T. McNeill, and Ford Lewi Battles, Institutes of the Christian Religion, The Library of Christian Classic (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2006), 383.

[3] Thoennes, Godly Jealousy, 130–33.

[4] Anastasia Philippa Scrutton, Thinking through Feeling: God, Emotion, and Passibility, Bloomsbury Studies in Philosophy of Religion (New York: Continuum, 2011), 125.

[5] If this is the case, perhaps sin would be the dark ugliness of all of Satan’s attributes.

[6] Wayne A. Grudem, Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine, Second edition. (Leicester, England: Inter-Varsity Press, 2020), 245.

[7] Grudem, Systematic Theology, 293.

[8] Thoennes, Godly Jealousy, 124. There is debate on whether the spirit referenced is the human spirit or the Holy Spirit.

[9] Vern S. Poythress, The Mystery of the Trinity: A Trinitarian Approach to the Attributes of God (Phillipsburg, New Jersey: P & R Publishing Company, 2020), 110–19.

[10] John C. Peckham, The Doctrine of God: Introducing the Big Questions (London: T&T Clark, 2020), 59.

[11] J. I. Packer, Knowing God, 20th anniversary ed. (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1993), 153.

[12] Ephesians 6:2-3 ESV says, “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” This refers to children obeying their parents as being the first commandment with a promise. What Paul wrote to the Ephesians is absolutely true regarding the fifth commandment—considering it is the first promise for a personal blessing. Contrary to this view, it can also be regarded as the first promise that is more generalized to the entire nation of Israel—a part of the Abrahamic covenant known for its three parts: land, nation, and blessing (Genesis 12:1-3 and Deuteronomy 11:9).

[13] Joe M Sprinkle, “Law and Narrative in Exodus 19-24,” J. Evang. Theol. Soc. 47.2 (2004): 237.

[14] Packer, Knowing God, 157.