Deuteronomy 32:19-25

"The ’jealousy’ of God [Deuteronomy 32:21] is not a spirit of pettiness prompted by his insecurity, but righteous indignation caused by the disloyalty of his people to his covenant grace . . . The jealousy of Israel, however (see next line), will be envy because of God’s lavish attention to another nation [cf. Romans 11:11]." [Note: The NET Bible note on 32:21.]

God would discipline Israel because of her rebellion. He would make the punishment fit the crime (Deuteronomy 32:21). The nations referred to as being "not a people" (Deuteronomy 32:21) are those that had no divine calling as a people as Israel did. There is no other nation like Israel in the sense that it is the people of God. Fire (Deuteronomy 32:22) is the symbol of God’s wrath and judgment (cf. Deuteronomy 4:24; Exodus 3:2; Hebrews 12:29).