Not Even a Hint

God is a holy God. There is no room for impurity in his presence. Before Jesus came to offer us a way back to God, the Law gave the people a way for restitution. One particular area of the Law covered unfaithfulness to one’s spouse and jealousy regarding one’s spouse. “… and if feelings of jealousy come over her husband and he suspects his wife and she is impure – or if he is jealous and suspects her even though she is not impure – then he is to take his wife to the priest…” Numbers 5:14-15

The Law goes on to state that a curse will be put over the woman and if she is guilty, “may the Lord cause your people to curse and denounce you when he causes your thigh to waste away and your abdomen to swell.” Numbers 5:21

I wonder if the women at that time were very careful to not cause their husbands to become jealous. This would mean absolutely no flirting, no making eyes or even letting oneself think of sexual sin let alone participate in it.

Today, emotional and sexual encounters outside of marriage are commonplace in our society. Movies, billboards, and even email coming into our personal accounts flaunt it and invite people to participate in uncommitted, lustful encounters. People are no longer looked down on for this kind of behavior. Rather, they are encouraged. Couples sometimes purposefully try to make each other jealous with flirtatious behavior to check out how much the other loves them. And many find that behavior ‘cute’ and acceptable.

Obviously, we are far from being a holy people living the way God intended for us to live. Jesus taught, “But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Matthew 5:28 I’m pretty sure that is true for women as well in how they look at men.

I wonder how much stronger marriages would be and how much less divorce would occur if we as Christians could abide by this simple rule. “But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people.” Ephesians 5:3

If I want my marriage to be strong and to survive, I need to keep my focus on my spouse and not let my eyes wander. I need to look to my spouse for the deep relationship that God intends for us to have. Even when we argue or disappoint each other, my focus needs to be on repairing the relationship, not fleeing it. Forgiveness, not jealously, is the way back to full relationship.

I’m pretty sure the Laws on jealousy are not something Moses made up because he was tired listening to men complain about their wives. It seems God has had in mind right from the beginning of time that “a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.” Genesis 3:24 God’s best for us is to keep focused on each other and keep jealousy totally out of the equation. There is no room for jealousy in a godly relationship – not even a hint!