What was Israel doing in Jeremiah 44 with the worship of the goddess?
In Jeremiah 44, Israel was attempting to elevate the worship of a female goddess—so many that they couldn't be named. This was heresy and absolutely false. They were blinded, believing their troubles came from not doing enough to please her, never considering that the God of Abraham was displeased with them.
Les explains that in Jeremiah 44, Israel was trying to elevate the worship of this goddess, whichever one it was, because there were too many to name. He identifies it as heresy, absolutely false, yet they were falling for it and were so blinded that they thought their problems resulted from not doing enough to please this female goddess. It never entered their minds that it was God, the God of Abraham, who was displeased with them. Les notes they were steeped in idolatry, and he draws a parallel: when dilemmas come upon a nation, the general population often never considers that God might be trying to get their attention.
More Questions
Why did Israel worship the goddess in Jeremiah 44 and what did God call it?
Israel's exaltation of the goddess in Jeremiah 44 was heresy — absolutely false — and yet they fell for it and were blinded by it.
Why did the Israelites in Jeremiah 44 think they were having problems?
The Israelites in Jeremiah 44 were blinded and thought their problems were because they were not doing enough to please the female goddess.
Why did idolatrous Israel think they were having problems?
Israel was so blinded by idolatry that they believed their troubles came because they were not doing enough to please the female goddess; it never entered their mind that it was the God of Abraham who was displeased with them.