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What Does Qannā’ Mean For The USMNT & Severe Weather?

What Does Qannā’ Mean For The USMNT & Severe Weather?

Last updated on: July 10, 2026 at 12:19 am by Martin Thomas Johnson

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What Does Qannā’ Mean For The USMNT & Severe Weather? 2026-07-10T00:19:14-04:00 Martin Thomas Johnson

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This week, the big news is the USNMT and the controversies surrounding its World Cup knockout-round match against Belgium. Last Friday, one of the team’s star players was issued a controversial red card that would knock him out of the match against Belgium.

Image by Wilopedia Commons

Many have believed that America, being one of the host nations, would have the home-field advantage and be certain to win the World Cup tournament. However, despite being on home soil, the USMT was eliminated, even after FIFA eventually reversed its decision on the controversial red card.

The decision to lift the red card and suspension came just hours before the match was to begin. Of course, our dear president wanted all the attention for himself and claimed that he was responsible for having the red card suspended so that the full team could play. Despite acknowledging the call from the president, FIFA assured the other nations in the world that their decision had nothing to do with the president’s phone call, but relied solely upon the independent organization’s own protocols:

Article 27
Suspension of the card
One year’s probation for the player

Of course, President Trump insisted he wielded his authority and position to supersede the power of the independent international organization. He claimed he forced them to do the ”Right thing.”

President Trump wants all of the attention and glory for himself (Proverbs 27:2, Philippians 2:3-4). Perhaps all the attention contributed to the team’s loss on the world stage with the home-field advantage.

Many of the Belgian players mocked the president by doing his ridiculous dance after they dominated the home team on the home field. Above all, I believe the president is just jealous of the team’s success and wants their attention (Proverbs 27:4, James 4:2-3).

What Is Jealous

Most of us view jealousy as negative because it can harden our hearts and distort the truth, but it can also be good in certain situations, reaffirming our love, values, and relationships. Jealous is defined as “Hostile towards a rival or one believed to enjoy an advantage: envious or vigilant in guarding a possession.”

Image by Pixabay

The problem comes when we let it distort our qualities and emotions. Or cause us to do harm to others we claim to love. Jealousy often causes us to do evil things, like crimes or passion.

However, Scripture teaches we serve a jealous God who desires and deserves our total attention and commitment (Joshua 24:19, Hebrews 34:14). That is why the Bible has a lot to say about being jealous, when it is good and when it isn’t (Galatians 5:19-21, James 4:2).

The Bible is abundantly clear that human jealousy and envy are dangerous (Proverbs 14:30, James 3:14-16, 1 Peter 2:1). The Bible uses the marriage analogy to describe God’s love for His people (Isaiah 54:5, Matthew 25:1-13, 2 Corinthians 11:2).

Our love for God should be greater than our love for anyone or anything else (Philippians 3:8, Colossians 3:2, 1 John 2:15). The bridegroom has a right to be jealous when His bride wants anyone or anything else more (Revelation 19:7-9; 21:2). The apostles remembered their Jewish education about jealousy and God.

Qannā’

The Torah tells us how God created mankind in the beginning, and eventually mankind wanted more so he could be great like God (Genesis 1:26-28; 3:1-7; 11:1-9). Satan promised mankind he could be great like God was, and mankind rebelled against God (Genesis 3:4-5). Sounds like both mankind and Satan were jealous of God because they wanted what God had.

The Hebrew word in the Old Testament for jealous is qannā,’ and it can also mean “Zealous or compare,” depending upon the context in which it is used. After God set His people apart from this fallen world, he commanded them not to bow to the idols of this world and to serve Himself completely (Exodus 20:3-5, Leviticus 18:3-5, Deuteronomy 5:7-9).

Image by Pixabay

Because of God’s zeal and love for His people, Israel gave God the name of QANNA (Exodus 20:5; 34:14; Deuteronomy 4:24; 5:9; 6:15). When God gave His people the commandments, He warned them not to use their freedom to worship idols or be jealous of those who serve them (Exodus 20:1-17):

I am the Lord thy God.
Thou shalt not have other gods before me.
Do not take the Lord’s name in vain.
Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy.
Do not murder
Thou shalt not commit adultery
Do not bear false witness.
Thou shalt not steal.
Honor your mother and father.
Do not envy your neighbor’s house or wife.

When Jesus began His earthly ministry, He reminded His followers to be fully committed to God above all else (Matthew 22:37). Our Rabbi emphasized loving Him more than loving our own family and this life itself (Matthew 10:37-39).

Image by Pixabay

He warned us that jealousy comes from our evil hearts (Mark 7:21-23). Our Lord taught His followers to be content and humble instead of pursuing greatness and earthly riches as the world does (Matthew 6:19-21, Luke 12:15).

Jesus stated that He saw Satan fall from heaven like lightning when he aspired to be great like God (Luke 10:18). Jesus knew that money doesn’t save, but God can control the weather (Matthew 6:24-30).

Severe Weather

In other big news this week, it has been another week of brutal heat and severe weather across the United States of America. Severe weather even impacted and delayed PresidentTrump’s big speech at his America 250 celebration in Washington.

Image by Pizabay

As I write this, the Northeast has been flooded by storms from New Jersey all the way down through Washington, D. C. There have been people found dead in their homes and cars in the Northeast from the extreme heat wave.

From the looks of our nation, God isn’t happy with or blessing America because many have turned to the idols of this world:

Earthly greatness
Temporary power
Wealth
Political power

Both Judaism and Christianity stress we must love God above all else in this temporary kingdom (Deuteronomy 6:5, Matthew 22:37-38). Jesus warned us about trying to serve more than one master (Matthew 6:24).

Nowhere in the Bible are God’s people told to rule or control this fallen world; we are commanded to be different and separate from it (Matthew 20:25-28, Philippians 3:20, 1 Peter 2:11). We bow down to and love the Most High God above all of the nations (Psalm 95:6-7, Revelation 5:13). It is no wonder our Lord is ‘s qannā’!

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