Dt. 13: Other Gods

Deuteronomy 13:17 "None of those condemned things shall be found in your hands, so that the LORD will turn from his fierce anger; he will show you mercy, have compassion on you, and increase your numbers, as he promised on oath to your forefathers..."

If you had any doubt about the real power in the paranormal, toss it out the window. In verse 2 of Deuteronomy chapter 13, God reveals that what is dreamed or foretold by prophets can take place. How this power is acquired by those outside of God's covenant is yet a mystery at this point in my reading, though the only opposer with any real power appears to be the serpent this far. Perhaps these prophets belong to God, perhaps not. But if the prophet attempts to convince the nation of Israel to follow after strange and unknown gods, that is where God draws the line. Apparently, the issue is less about others having supernatural power, and more about God being the sole recipient of love and worship.

Further on, it is implied that the coming to pass of these prophecies is a result of God testing the nation of Israel to see if they truly love him with all their hearts and souls. Again, it is less about power, and more about love. Israel is being warned here not to be swayed by signs and prophecies that could deflect any glory from God Himself. Why is that? In fact, the dreamer or prophet must be stoned.

So...if Israel is given a choice, and they follow another (false) god, would this god have Israel's best interests (at a minimum) in mind? Would this other god be able to offer the love and provisions that God does?

So seriously does God take false prophecies, that he would have the immediate family kill the false prophet themselves, for trying to divert Israel to another religion. As if the person were mildew in a garment or a leper in the camp, they had to be stopped, cut out, in order to preserve the rest of the community.

A similar command is given regarding the cities God was giving to the Israelites in the promised land. If a rebellion arose, and was investigated and found to be accurate, the city's entire population had to be put to the sword. The plunder had to be burned in the town square, and the city itself destroyed never to be rebuilt.

In the ruins of sin, God builds compassion.