He's not threatened, but rather aware of the deceptive and corruptive nature of false worship. He knows what happens to people who reject Him, especially in preference to something so obviously un-divine as a piece of metal. But that's even true for people who philosophize Him into alleged nonexistence.

> Evidently one can get just as much out of worshipping a hunk of metal as they can out of worshipping God

The capacity of the human mind to pursue stupidity is almost boundless. People can manufacture meaning wherever they desire.

> so I can see why that would make an omnipotent being worry a bit about their standing..

His only "worry" is that He knows how misdirected and intemperate life can be when oriented away from Him.

> Sounds like god is a bit insecure.

Well yea. He's threatened by people worshipping pieces of metal even though he's supposedly the only God. Evidently one can get just as much out of worshipping a hunk of metal as they can out of worshipping God, so I can see why that would make an omnipotent being worry a bit about their standing..

No, He's not insecure at all, but He knows the hefty pull of sin on the human heart. As such, He seeks to protect us and our hearts. It's a move of wisdom and love, not insecurity.

> A husband who doesn't get jealous when others flirt with his wife—when an illegitimate intruder threatens to ruin the relationship—isn’t all that committed to the marriage

No not being jealous in this situation is called being secure in your relationship. When you are secure in your relationship and trust your partner you do not get jealous of flirting. This type jealousy is something insecure teenagers and adults do. Sounds like god is a bit insecure.

Answers like these are the ones that tear down biblical misunderstandings for good. If every “falsehood” of the Bible was explained in the same way as this answer above, I believe the majority or the world would come to faith.

I will always hold that the Bible is in no way false; it is simply misunderstood.

Totally makes sense. No wonder it is the top commandment. The eternal implications..

Great perspective in explaining. thanks so much.

That's a good perspective. There is much about Israel's relationship with God that is similar to a vassal state and its suzerain.

I like your explanation. In simpler terms, imagine a vassal state owing allegiance to Assyria cosying up to Egypt. The Assyrian king would have reason to be "jealous" and more often than not, the vassal state would be really foolish.

> So this would actually mean that Deuteronomy 13 is actually saying that when He bans us from idolatry to other gods, He's protecting what's His lest it strays away from Him?

Yes. YHWH is not jealous of other gods, but instead of the worship given to them (Ps. 78.58). It's an expression of proprietary rights based on His relationship. He's trying to protect the relationship to which He has the exclusive rights. It is not as much intolerance as it is exclusiveness.

> I was pondering about the level of activeness that one must partake – 13:9, why the severity.

If there really is a God, then that has immense implications for life and eternity. Honestly, if there really is a God, there is nothing more important than discovering that truth and living in it. (If there really is no God, that has tremendous implications for life also!) But if there really is a God, and our lives and eternal destiny depend on finding that truth and living in it, then deceit about God is the worst possible offense, worse than murder, rape, cancer, torture, or anything else (as horrific as those things are). Idolatry, then, has *eternal* implications, and the truth about God must be protected seriously at all costs.

> Is killing therefore justified when done in defence of your faith?

No, we don't do this any more, though the eternal stakes are just as critical. That teaching was for Israel under their theocracy; it went belly-up when the Temple was destroyed. Killing is no longer justified in defense of our faith; we live under a different covenant (the covenant of Jesus's sacrifice on the cross and His resurrection).

> I have known Him as a father. Not what is portrayed in OT.

The OT consistently portrays YHWH as Father. Mother bears kill those who threaten their young. The OT portrays YHWH as having overwhelming compassion, unending love, and deep care for His children. Anyone who threatens that has to face "mother bear." When you were young, you expected your parents to protect you, and if someone messed with you, they had to face your mama. That's what's happening here. God's care is so strong and so deep and if anyone threatens his "babies"—His people who are the sheep of his pasture—He has no qualms about using severity against the perpetrators. It's His love that motivates Him.

So this would actually mean that Deuteronomy 13 is actually saying that when He bans us from idolatry to other gods, He's protecting what's His lest it strays away from Him?

Really good explanation though. I was pondering about the level of activeness that one must partake – 13:9, why the severity.
I'm sorry, I'm not trying to question if God is good. I know He is. I don't understand that in the process of believing Him, one must pro actively deny people who are trying to entice them in another belief system?

Is killing therefore justified when done in defence of your faith? How does that separate me from the terrorist, who does it as a ritual?
I'm trying to understand who my God is. What characteristics does He have, I have known Him as a father. Not what is portrayed in OT.