What does the Bible say happens to a person or nation that turns to worshiping false idols?
Jeremiah 44 shows that when a person or nation turns to false idols, God remembers and deals with them, and they suffer want, sword, and famine. The people claimed these troubles came after they stopped burning incense to the Queen of heaven, but they failed to recognize God was dealing with their idolatry.
Les explains that Jeremiah 44 lays out distinctly what the results will be if a people, person, or nation goes into the worship of false idol gods. In verse 18, the Jews or Israelites say that since they left off burning incense to the Queen of heaven and pouring out drink offerings to her, they have wanted all things and have been consumed by the sword and by the famine. Les points out they were not recognizing that God was trying to deal with them; instead they claimed their problems came because they quit worshiping the Queen of heaven. Verse 19 adds that they burned incense, poured drink offerings, and made cakes to worship her, with the women as the primary culprits. In verse 20, Jeremiah tells all the people that the incense burned in the cities of Judah and streets of Jerusalem—by them, their fathers, kings, princes, and the people of the land—the Lord remembered. This shows how far pagan worship had penetrated the Jewish or Israeli community.
But since we left off to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, we have wanted all things, and have been consumed by the sword and by the famine.