1 December 2024
EL KANNA – THE JEALOUS GOD
(The Names Of God: TNOG 18)
El Kanna is the Hebrew Name for God meaning “Consuming Fire, Jealous God”. This Name contains a holy version of jealousy that God has for His people. This Name is found in Exodus 20:5; 34:14: “You shall not bow down to them (idols) or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a Jealous God (El Kanna)… “You must not worship any other god, for the LORD, Whose Name is Jealous, is a Jealous God” (El Kanna).
This Revelation of God’s Jealousy comes at Mt. Sinai where God makes a covenant with the children of Israel whom He has redeemed from Egypt. This is the reason they are to turn away from idolatry and love the Lord exclusively and obey His commandments. As someone said,“The jealousy of God is His holy commitment to His Honor, Glory, and Love that manifests itself in the salvation of His people and the just condemnation of all who stand in opposition to Him.” (Kirk Wellum).
When God calls Himself jealous, it is a reminder to us that our worship cannot be divided. We are to love God with “all” (not part of) our hearts, with all our souls, with all our minds and with all our strength. He alone is worthy of our total devotion. He alone is deserving of our hearts. We cannot serve (worship) both God and mammon.
The adjective kannōʾ also means “jealous.” This word appears only twice, with implications similar to kannāʾ. Josh. 24:19: “And Joshua said unto the people, You cannot serve the Lord; for He is a holy God; He is a Jealous God; He will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins.” Nahum 1:2: “The LORD is a Jealous and Avenging God…”
God is jealous for His people. We are greatly loved and treasured! God is jealous for you and me. He wants every inch of our hearts connected to His. God’s holy jealousy is rooted in a desire to protect, provide, and bless. He does not want us to come under His wrath when we worship other gods. God hates idolatry and cannot tolerate a divided heart. He will judge us when we worship another god, and His command is to ensure that we will not do that.
God wants us exclusively for Himself, because He made us, and in Christ He redeemed us by His Atoning Sacrifice. The Bible says that we have been bought with a price – the price of His Blood and therefore we belong to Him (
The word “jealous” (kanna) also means “consuming fire” (of jealousy). Moses warned the Israelites about this to deter them from worshipping idols in Deut.4:24: “For the Lord your God is a Consuming Fire, a Jealous God”. The Writer of Hebrews also quoted this verse to remind us “to worship God with reverence and awe, for our God is a Consuming Fire” (Heb.12;28-29). The Holiness of God, besides His Jealousy, is implied in these verses. So let us takeheed and reverence God with a true heart of worship and devotion.
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