Jealousy and the Adversary

[Otto]

Wisdom of Solomon 2:24 (KJV):
“Nevertheless through envy of the devil came death into the world: and they that do hold of his side do find it.”

Wisdom of Solomon 2:24 GNT
It was the Devil's jealousy that brought death into the world, and those who belong to the Devil are the ones who will die.

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How did the adversary's jealousy bring death into the world? The adversary was cast down, because he wanted to be like the Most High (Isaiah 14:14). He introduced this temptation to Eve. The temptation of envy and jealousy - "You will not die. You will be like God" (Genesis 3:5). She fell for his temptation. Adam submitted to his wife, instead of remaining submissive to the Most High.

So through jealousy came exile and death.
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Rhetorical Question: Can the church be jealous towards Messiah? Or does Messiah have rulership as King of Kings and Lord of Lords?

The Messiah is allowed to grow his church, but his people are not allowed to serve a different god. His people should not even be covetous or jealous of one another.

The relationship between the husband and wife - at least in terms of submissiveness - is supposed to mirror that of Messiah and his church:

Ephesians 5:24
As the church submits to Messiah, so you wives should submit to your husbands in everything.

Conclusion of the matter:

A wife being jealous or possessive over her husband is imitating the adversary.

But a wife not being jealous or possessive is imitating the church’s relationship with Messiah. The apostle Peter gives the example of Sarah as someone to imitate, and Sarah was not jealous or envious towards her husband (even giving Abraham a 2nd wife).

But what does the world constantly push out? Even from our youth in Disney shows and movies. That it's perfectly acceptable, and even normal for a wife to be jealous and possessive over her husband.

What good is it for a woman to say “I love and follow Jesus Christ” if through her actions she’s aligned with Satan? What is the fruit of a jealous wife? Broken households - adultery - whoredom. No wonder it’s something that the adversary works very hard to ingrain in young girls. He knows the fruit it will produce.

2 Corinthians 2:11
Do not be ignorant of the devil’s schemes.

 

[wanttoknowmorethanks]

Hey Otto. I appreciate your post. I've been reflecting on this myself recently and the Lord provided another angle through which to understand your stance:

While I understand jealously is indeed an outcome of the devils schemes in Eden, the main issue appears to be Mistrust, rather than Jealousy.

We see today that the spirit of mistrust is prevalent among women toward men - modern feminism tells women they don't need a man and they can achieve "success", or in other words "God status" on their own. Why? Because that's what Satan promised to Eve in Eden, if she'd simply go herself and take from the forbidden tree, rather than waiting on Father God to provide through Adam.

Satan wasn't simply trying to make Eve jealous. What woman when she sees her husband achieving success becomes jealous of him? Rather, woman's fear is that man can't be Trusted to love her the way she hopes for.

God told Adam to take dominion, or in other words, take responsibility over creation. Why are so many men these days fearful of marriage? Because they know, subconsciously or consciously, the amount of responsibility it takes to care for another human being and they may not feel ready for it - especially because they don't know God. If they knew God, then they would know Love casts out Fear. That's why Jesus came as a man and why knowing God is so important because He's the only one that can provide direction on how to conform to the image of Jesus, so that we can correctly execute our God given instincts.