El Kanna
Adapted from the book
I Am: 40 Bible Stories, Devotions, and Prayers About the Names of God
by Diane Stortz
Photo by Jerry Green
Good morning, grandchildren!
I wish I were with you right now so I could give you a
great big hug and tell you how much I love you!
Today’s Scripture is:
“The Lord, whose very name is Jealous,
is a God who is jealous about his relationship with you.”
—Exodus 34:14 (NLT)
Today we’re talking about: Our God Is a Jealous God — El Kanna (El kan-NAH). There are two kinds of jealousy—one that is not good, and one that is good.
A quick picture to help: The bad kind of jealousy is when we want something that belongs to someone else—like their toy, their clothes, or something they are really good at. That kind of jealousy can make our hearts feel grumpy, unhappy, and unthankful for what God has given us.
But God’s jealousy is very different. God’s jealousy is a good thing. It means He loves us so much that He wants our hearts to belong to Him and not to anything else that might take His place.
Think about having a really good friend. A good friend wants to spend time with you and doesn’t want to be forgotten. In the same way, God wants us to love Him first and spend time with Him. His jealousy shows how much He cares about His relationship with us.
The best part: When God asks us to put Him first, it’s not because He’s being mean—it’s because He knows that loving Him most will help our lives be full, safe, and joyful. His jealousy reminds us that we are very special to Him.
Let’s Pray Together
Father,
Thank You for loving us so much that You care about our hearts. Help us love You first and not let anything take Your place. Thank You for showing us how special we are to You.
We love You. Amen.