Foolishness of God

The God revealed in the Bible is a jealous God, a God who clings to and protects what is His. His name is Jealous (Exodus 34:14), and His jealousy often breaks out in wrath (Deuteronomy 32:16). 

Jealousy appears to be one of God’s distasteful character traits, and modern theologians have often avoided, downplayed, or denied it.

Paul offers a different angel. “Bear with me in a little folly,” he says, and then explains himself: “I am jealousy for you with a godly jealousy” (2 Corinthians 11:1-2). He has “betrothed” the Corinthians to Christ, and as match-maker he is eager for the church to protect her chastity. He guards her as Adam should have guarded Eve (v. 3).

Paul is jealous because he wants the Corinthians’ story with her fiance Jesus to turn out as a romantic comedy rather than a tragedy. 

Paul is jealous because he is gripped by the Spirit of jealousy, and the one whose name is jealous is jealous in the same way Paul is: Because He doesn’t want to lose his bride but to win and keep her. God is a jealous God because He is a fool for love.