God’s jealousy is described in Deuteronomy 32:16: “They provoked him to jealousy with strange gods, with abominations provoked they him to anger.” He says He is the only God (Isaiah 44:6-8), so why is He jealous of “other” gods? Deuteronomy 32:21 clarifies: “They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God…” It’s not about real gods, but the faithfulness of God’s people.
It is about the heart: "I am broken with their whorish heart, which hath departed from me, and with their eyes, which go a whoring after their idols..."
It’s not about competing gods, which could suggest polytheism. People create gods from their imagination (Jeremiah 9:14; Isaiah 44:13-19). Other religions’ followers worship demons (Deuteronomy 32:17; Psalm 106:37; 1 Corinthians 10:20).
Non-believers often ask about God’s definition. Angels have power (2 Peter 2:11), but aren’t gods. God is the Creator (Genesis 1:1-31; Isaiah 40:28; Hebrews 11:3). A Hindu explained their “gods” include people, hence “Namaste” greets the god in you. Thus, God is the universe’s Creator.
Jealousy differs from envy. Envy is wanting what others have; jealousy is about relational attachment. God desires a relationship with us, so He is jealous of anything we prioritize over Him.
God, the Creator of all life, has all power, no competition, yet His jealousy stems from wanting a relationship with us.