El Kana – The Jealous God
- Dr. Michael Stallings
- Nov 5
- 3 min read
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El Kana – The Jealous God “Do not worship any other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.” – Exodus 34:14
El Kana. The Jealous God. To our ears, jealousy often sounds petty or insecure. But when God calls Himself El Kana, He is not revealing weakness—He is revealing love. Holy, covenantal, consuming love. Love that refuses to share what rightfully belongs to it. Not because God is controlling, but because He is committed. He is a husband to His people, a Father to His children, a God who will not tolerate rival thrones in the hearts of those He has redeemed.
Israel had a long history of wandering from God, chasing idols that could not speak, save, or love. But El Kana pursued them. He disciplined them, not to destroy, but to restore. His jealousy was not vindictive—it was redemptive. It burned not with hatred, but with the fire of a lover longing to be known and honored in truth.
To call God El Kana is to remember that we were not just saved from something—we were saved for someone. We belong to Him. Our hearts, our worship, our affections are not ours to scatter like loose change. El Kana calls us to loyalty not because He needs us—but because He chose us.
And in eternity, there will be no more divided hearts. No idols, no distractions, no lesser loves. The Bride will be fully united with her Bridegroom, and the jealous longing of God will be fulfilled in a people who love Him with undivided devotion.
Until then, we repent quickly. We tear down our idols. We invite His jealousy to purify us, to cleanse our affections, and to draw us into deeper intimacy with the One who will not let us go.
Commentary 1. Why the name was used in its original biblical context: In Exodus 34, God renews His covenant with Israel after the golden calf incident. He warns them not to intermarry with pagan nations or adopt their idolatrous practices, and He names Himself El Kana—“the Jealous God.” It is a declaration of His exclusive right to their worship. He is not a god among gods. He is the One who brought them out of Egypt, and He will not share their love with idols.
2. What it meant to the speaker: To Moses and Israel, this name was a sober reminder of God’s covenantal intensity. God’s jealousy wasn’t arbitrary—it was rooted in His relationship with them. He had made them His own, and He would not overlook spiritual adultery. It reminded Israel that sin was not merely lawbreaking—it was heartbreak. God’s jealousy was evidence of His passionate, faithful love.
3. What it means in light of Jesus Christ: Jesus reveals the depth of El Kana’s jealousy—not in wrath, but in redemption. He didn’t abandon His wayward Bride; He came to win her back. On the cross, Christ took the place of the unfaithful so that we might be restored to the faithful One. His Spirit now dwells within us, jealously guarding our hearts against sin and drawing us into deeper loyalty. God’s jealousy is no longer something we fear—it’s something we treasure.
🙏 Prayer:
El Kana, Jealous God, thank You for loving me with a fierce and faithful love. Forgive me for giving my heart to lesser things. Teach me to love You with undivided devotion, and purify every affection that competes with You. May I be wholly Yours, now and forever. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Think about it today while you walk in his love and share His grace!
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