There was one particular puzzling lesson that has had great significance in my life. My sister had come to visit and we did more than one puzzle during her stay. We didn't finish the second one before she had to leave, and I was determined to finish it. There was this one piece I was just sure should fit in a particular part of the emerging picture. The area I thought it went in, when completed, would go along way toward pulling together other completed parts. But it didn't work. I stared, I tried it in a variety of ways, I gave up and went on, but it bugged me so I came back to it. I probably wasted hours of limited puzzle time trying to make that piece fit. As it turned out, I was right about that piece being pivotal in the puzzle coming together, but the piece I was trying didn't fit because it was never apart of that puzzle. It was a piece from the previous puzzle that had somehow been missed. Despite the fact that the pictures on the two puzzles were very different, this one piece looked similar in coloring and form to the piece that did eventually fit and complete the puzzle. A piece that had been lying ignored, in a pile of pieces near my hand, while I wasted time and effort with the wrong piece. It was amazing how quickly it all fell into place when I put aside the wrong piece and began trying the right one. Truly amazing.
That little puzzle adventure became a lasting lesson for me because it corresponded to, and became instrumental in, my considering the idea of putting aside long held assumptions- in the chance that those assumptions might be like the mistaken puzzle piece- looking a lot like the real thing, but, in fact, being only a distraction. A distraction, that, if I continued to concentrate on, would prevent me from finding the real pieces; the ones that would help the puzzling pieces of this mortal experience come together the way our loving Heavenly Father intended.
It was the word "jealous" I was particularly considering, along with sister concepts like "anger" and "wrath." In the American Heritage Dictionary, under the entry for "jealous", it actually uses the Lord's word from Exodus 19:5, "I…am a jealous God" to illustrate what it means to be "intolerant of disloyalty or infidelity; autocratic; fearful or wary of being supplanted; apprehensive of losing affection or position." For years, based on a scriptural commentary I saw as a young adult, I looked at the account of the Tower of Babel as an illustration of God, "autocratically" using his power to punish those who offended Him. I found it a particularly troublesome interpretation because there is such an obvious clear link between God's actions being seen that way, and men justifying truly "autocratic," controlling, cruel, selfish, unChristlike behavior, by quoting such scriptures. Using the English definition of the word just didn't fit with my own recent experiences, and such clear statements as: (John 3:16)God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him might not perish, but have everlasting life.
Listen to him who is your advocate…pleading your cause…. (Doctrine & Covenants 45:3)
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you. That ye may be children of your Father which is in heaven…. (Matthew 5:44-45)
(God) doeth not anything save it be for the benefit of the word; for he loveth the world….(2 Nephi 26:24)Our use of the word "jealous" really never focuses on the "benefit" of the others involved. It is a selfish emotion. However, being "zealous" is another matter entirely. Did you know that in Hebrew, Greek, and English that the root of both "zealous" and "jealous" is "zeal." In fact the exact same word is translated as both "jealous" and "zealous" in the Old Testment. Zeal is defined as Enthusiastic devotion to a cause, ideal, or goal and tireless diligence in its furtherance. Zeal is not competative, autocratic, or fearful- it indicates devotion. It is not, in and of itself, negative or positive, but can become either depending on the ideal or cause which is so passionately, devotedly, advocated. And the Lord's cause? Us, His children, and His desire to prepare us to receive all that He is and has.
Interstingly, the Hebrew word, which is translated as both "zealous" and "jealous" can be literally translated "to gather for the seeds (young)" or "to nest." (Ancient Hebrew Lexicon of the Bible, Jeff A. Benner, P.246-247) The word derives its meaning from the tireless, focused work that we see in birds building a nest and then nurturing, protecting, and providing for their young. It idicates something more than devotion to an ideal, but something far more personal and intimate- devotion to those you build for, provide for, protect, teach and enable. Interstingly, while our use of the word "jealous" goes hand in hand with the use of the word "of," indicating a recognition of competition or loss- the word translated "jealous" in the Old Testament is curiously coupled with the word "for" meaning "in behalf of." (Joel 2:18, Zechariah 8:2)
Oh, the pieces, the many, many verbal pieces of scripture that this understanding of "jealous God" begins to bring together. Not only the scriptures on love, but the many times He declares his devotion and desire to enable, strengthen, and provide for us as we grow and gain the experience and knowledge we came here to gain, for example:
For can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee…. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me. (Isaiah 49:15-16, 1 Nephi 21:16-17)
I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, be strong and of a good courage….This book of law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein…that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein; for then thou shalt make they way prosperous, and then thou shall have good success….Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed; for the Lord They God is with thee withersoever thou goest. (Joshua 1:5-9)
Verily, verily, I say unto you ye are little children, and ye have not as yet understood how great blessings the Father hath in his own hands and prepared for you; and ye cannot bear all things now; nevertheless, be of good cheer for I will lead you along...And he that receiveth all thing with thankfulness shall be made glorious. (Doctrine & Covenants 78:17-19)Did you see the connection between receiving the devoted care of the Lord and willingly taking instruction from Him? This in turn, helps with other terms like anger or wrath. When Lehi is giving his final counsel to his two rebellious sons he explains the anger of the Lord.
(B)ehold, his sharpness was the sharpness of the power of the word of God, which was in him; and that which ye call anger was the truth, according to that which is in God. (2 Nephi 1:26)There is so much that has been offered and provided for us- so much at stake- that a infinitely wise, loving and devoted Father cannot let us throw it away without doing all that is in his power, while protecting and enabling the gift of agency, to make clear the truth of the situation. Things as they are, as they were, and as they will be.
Essentially this is what the gospel is: counsel from a living Father who says to his children, “You have limitless, everlasting possibilities. You also have your freedom. It’s up to you how you use it. This is what you can become if you take my advice—and this is what will happen if you don’t. The choice is yours.” (Richard L. Evans, “Should the Commandments Be Rewritten?,” Ensign, Dec 1971, 57)And so we are back to the Tower of Babel, and the very different picture that emerges from the perspective of seeing God, not as our English "jealous" and "angry" would indicate. But as a devoted, loving, respectful Father, who used his inifinite knowledge, wisdom and love in taking action to give His children every opportunity to learn of their endless possiblities, while at the same time diffusing a difficult and spiritually dangerous situation. Despite the flood being a very recent, real event, those who had gained power were using it to encourage, some accounts say force, their society to openingly turn their back on the Father's advice. The story of the Jaredites in the Book of Mormon shows us what a merciful act this was.(See Ether 1) This act of intervention and advocacy from the Lord showed the people of Babel "things as they are." They had a witness that God is real, as well as one of their own limited power. It was mercifully given in a way that gave years of mortal opportunity without war, bloodshed, famine, or floods. Also, the difficulty of the situation encouraged the Jaredites among others, to go to their Father for answers. To begin to receive, piece by piece, a correct understanding of this eternally important and pivitol opportunity we call life.
I can't help but surmise that among the words of the Lord the Jaredites had, were treasures similar to the verses quoted above. And that as they opened their hearts to His words, they had sparkling, vivid, joy infusing moments like the one I had during particular worrisome time a few years ago. I read 1 Nephi 21:16, and felt myself wrapped in feelings of sparkling reassurance as the words became so very personal. They seemed to read:
Behold I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; (the walls of your home) are continually before me. Peace, be still.
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