Jealousy Is Total Rottenness

Proverbs 14:30

A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.

Most of us have experienced jealousy at some point.  We know how to identify jealousy when it appears in us, and we can usually tell when someone else experiences jealousy, based on their actions.

The green-eyed monster, as Shakespeare called it, can camp in your head at any time during a relationship, when you believe are madly in love when you are snugly attached, even when you dislike your partner.  Neither gender is routinely more jealous, although women are more willing to work to win back a lover, while men tend to flaunt their money and status and are more likely to walk out to protect their self-esteem or save face. Jealousy bedevils other creatures, too.  Primatologist Jane Goodall describes Passion, a female chimp who was tipping her buttocks toward a young male in the classic (for chimps) "come hither" pose when he ignored her and began to court another.  Passion slapped him, hard.  Bluebirds are also jealous.  In one experiment involving a breeding pair, evolutionary biologist David Barash waited until the cock was away, and then placed a stuffed male on a branch about three feet from the nest, where the female rested.  When the cock returned, he began to squawk, hover, and snap his bill in fury at the dummy.  Then he attacked his mate, pulling feathers from her wing.  She fled.

Why do we feel jealousy?  Therapists often regard the demon as a scar of childhood trauma or a symptom of a psychological problem.  And it's true that people who feel inadequate, insecure, or overly dependent tend to be more jealous than others.  But it is believed Darwinian's that the "monster" actually evolved for positive reasons. Throughout our primordial past, it discouraged desertion by a mate, bolstering the family unit and enabling the survival of the young.  At the same time, it has pushed us to abandon philanderers and many a futile match, in favour of more stable and rewarding partnerships.  Jealousy can even be good for love.  One partner may feel secretly flattered when the other is mildly jealous.  And catching someone flirting with your beloved can spark the kind of lust and romance that reignites a relationship.

But jealousy can go seriously awry.  Some people, for no apparent reason, become consumed by it, undermining their self-esteem, and even driving their partner into another's arms, the very outcome they had feared.  In the worst cases, they become violent, displaying extremely unpleasant behaviour to a sibling or spouse.

So what can you do if jealousy is making you miserable?  First, figure out whether she or she's actually cheating.  If so, you have a different problem, what to do about your relationship.  But if you find yourself snooping through your lover's pockets, or reading emails on the sly, stop.  This is demeaning to you.  Explain that you are working to control your suspicion but would like help by not provoking it.  And if you can't stop spying or obsessing, it's time to consult a mental health professional.  Ultimately, though, you may never feel emotionally secure with a flirtatious mate, in which case you might consider some Zen philosophy, 'The way out is through the door'.


After Yahuwah told Eve that she would conceive of a son that would crush the head of the serpent (Satan) mentioned in which has been called the protoevangelium or the first prophesy, the promise of a Redeemer for fallen mankind, Eve called her son Cain.  Eve may well have believed that her son might be that redeemer and that is why she called him Cain and said: “I have gotten a man with the help of the Elohim”.

This seems likely because Cain’s name in Hebrew means “acquired” and she may have thought that she had acquired this redeemer and especially since he was the firstborn which is important as we will later read.  After Cain was born, “she bore his brother Abel.  Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground”.  Abel’s Hebrew name means “breath” but maybe a derivative of the Assyrian name for “meadow” and this seems perfectly fitting as Abel was a keeper of sheep or a shepherd.

After the fall in the Garden there was the need for blood sacrifices which Yahuwah had first done in killing the animals to provide for Adam and Eve their clothing for if you remember, they were naked this was one way of saying it they were naked, exposed, and their sin was clearly seen.  Sin required blood to be shed so Yahuwah killed the first animals providing the first sacrifice.  Before the fall, no death had been experienced, even among the animal kingdom and so these animals that were killed were technically the firstborn (even though it was from Yahuwah). 

Yahuwah again would later provide a first-born sacrifice but not an animal sacrifice, which could only cover sins but not take them away.  And it would not just be another sacrifice, but the Son of Yahuwah Himself who would give His own life voluntarily and by whose blood would be shed for the forgiveness of sins and so “Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering, he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell”.

Why did Yahuwah not accept Cain’s offering?  Because there was no bloodshed which is an appropriate sacrifice sin.  Cain only brought produce of the ground, indicating that he had to work for his forgiveness and if you remember, Yahuwah told Adam that after the fall he would have to work the ground with intensive labour now and it would take the “sweat of your brow” from this point forward.   

The point is that Cain tried to work for his forgiveness or salvation from his sins and Yahuwah never accepts works, and works cannot ever be accepted for sin offerings because we are always saved by grace and never by works.

As for Abel, he raised sheep.  The interesting thing is that meat was not at that time eaten and was only done so until after Noah’s flood, so why would Abel be raising sheep if they didn’t raise them to eat?  One reason is that they used them for clothing and for coverings for their tents and perhaps even to carry water in for their working of the ground, however, there is an even more important reason that Able raised sheep.  Since “Abel, brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering” it appears that Abel raised sheep to have a consistent supply of lambs to sacrifice.  

First of all, he brought the firstborn of the flock and this would be what the later sacrifices would require.   Also, Yahuwah has stated in both the Old Testament and the New that without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sins. That is why Yahuwah accepted Abel’s offering and did not accept Cain’s. One offering was insufficient and consisted of works but Abel’s was a blood sacrifice and that was pleasing or satisfying to Yahuwah.  Able had forgiveness but Cain did not because God did not accept his offering, one of the works.

Cain was angered by this and perhaps in a jealous rage, he killed his brother Able.  Yahuwah then asked Cain “Where is Abel your brother”?   Why did Yahuwah ask Cain this?   He surely knew what had happened, being omniscient?  It is possible that Yahuwah had asked Cain this question is that He had hoped for Cain to repent and then ask for forgiveness for what he had done, but what does Cain do?  He retorts, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” as a sarcastic way of answering Yahuwah.  Cain was driven from his family and home and remained a vagabond the rest of his life.  As for Adam and Eve, Yahuwah gave them another son which was named Seth which means “appointed” and this might mean that Yahuwah appointed Seth to replace Abel or it might again have been another expectation of the Promised One who would “crush the head of the serpent” someday.

Every human that is alive today or has ever lived has needed a redeemer and this redeemer lives today to make intercession for the saints.  He is more than a redeemer but He is THE Redeemer and He is also the High Priest of Yahuwah who entered into the heavenly sanctuary with His own blood.  If you have never repented and confessed your sins, and seen your need for the Savior, then you have no redeemer to rescue you from the pit.

Without the Redeemer, Yeshua Hamashiach, no man or no woman will see Yahuwah but instead will forever be separated from Him with no chance to escape.  That is why Yahushua gave the account of Lazarus and the Rich Man to show that there would be “a great chasm [that] has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us”.  That means if a person dies without faith in Yeshua Hamashiach they end up in the place where no one can pass and go from there to heaven, ever again.  I pray you think about that today while it is still called “today” for no one knows what tomorrow will bring.

Sin is the shame of sinners, but wisdom is the honour of the wise.  Even bad men acknowledge the excellency of Yahuwah's people.  Friendship in the world is governed by self-interest. It is good to have God our Friend, he will not desert us.  To despise a man for his employment or appearance is a sin.  How wisely those consult their own interest, who not only do good but devise it!.  Labour of the head, or of the hand, will turn to some good account.  But if men's religion runs all out in talk and noise, they will come to nothing.  The riches of men of wisdom and piety enlarge their usefulness.  An upright man will venture the displeasure of the greatest, to bring truth to light. 

Those who fear the Lord so as to obey and serve him, have a strong ground of confidence and will be preserved.  Let us seek to this Fountain of life, that we may escape the snares of death.  Let all that wish well to the kingdom of Yeshua Hamashiach, do what they can, that many may be added to his congregation.  A mild, patient man is one that learns of Yeshua Hamashiach, who is Wisdom itself.  Unbridled passion is folly made known. 30. An upright, contented, and benevolent mind, tends to health.  To oppress the poor is to reproach our Creator. 

The wicked man has his soul forced from him, he dies in his sins, under the guilt and power of them.  But godly men, though they have pain and some dread of death, have the blessed hope, which Yahuwah, who cannot lie, has given them.  Wisdom possesses the heart, and thus regulates the affections and tempers.  Piety and holiness always promote industry, sobriety, and honesty.  The great King who reigns over heaven and earth will reward faithful servants who honour his gospel by the proper discharge of the duties of their stations, he despises not the services of the lowest.