Israel's idolatry brought God's anger, judgment, and removal from His presence.
When Israel turned to idols, they lost their set-apart position and the protection that went with it. God's anger was kindled, and He forsook them, letting judgment fall in the form of death and eventual displacement from the land. Even when prophets called them back, they refused to listen, sealing their fate.
Deuteronomy 31:17 — God directly states the consequences of Israel's idolatry: His anger, forsaking them, and hiding His face.
God's Word shows that idolatry led to His anger and judgment. In Deuteronomy 31:17, the Lord said that when Israel forsook Him and broke His covenant, 'my anger shall be kindled against them in that day, and I will forsake them, and I will hide my face from them, and they shall be devoured, and many evils and troubles shall befall them.' When the people made the golden calf at Sinai, the Lord plagued them because they made the calf (Exodus 32:35). Even when the prophet Jeremiah called them to return, the people answered, 'As for the word that thou hast spoken unto us in the name of the LORD, we will not hearken unto thee' (Jeremiah 44:16).
Les Feldick points out that whenever Israel lost their separated position, God's judgment fell immediately. He uses the Balaam incident as an example, where 23,000 Jews died because they had lost their separated character. He also explains that because Israel failed to wipe out the Canaanites, they were absorbed into their idolatrous worship within a couple of generations. In the golden calf incident, Les notes that idolatry was accompanied by abject immorality, and God judged them with death. Les also emphasizes God's warning in Deuteronomy 31 that He would forsake Israel and hide His face from them when they broke His covenant. Ultimately, as Les shows, this pattern of rebellion led to Israel's removal from the land and the destruction of the temple in the first century.
God's judgment took the form of death and destruction. Les notes that after the golden calf, thousands of Israelites died because of their idolatry (Clip 4). In the Balaam incident, 23,000 Jews were put to death because they had lost their separated position (Clip 1). Les also describes how God had to do 'ethnic cleansing' among Israel when they lost their separated position (Clip 6).
Idolatry broke the covenant relationship. God said that when Israel forsook Him and broke His covenant, His anger would be kindled and He would forsake them and hide His face (Deuteronomy 31:17). Les explains that this loss of separation immediately brought judgment (Clip 1).
When Jeremiah called Israel to return to the Lord, they answered, 'We will not hearken unto thee' (Jeremiah 44:16). Les points out that even after all God had done, Israel insisted on continuing their idolatrous practices. God had already warned that this would happen if they spared the Canaanites (Clip 3).
Israel's Refusal to Hear God's Word
Les reads Jeremiah 44:16, where the people tell Jeremiah they will not listen to the word of the Lord, showing their determination to continue in idolatry.
Judgment for Losing Separation
Les teaches that as soon as Israel lost their separated character, God's judgment fell, and 23,000 died in the Balaam incident.
The Danger of Sparing the Canaanites
Les explains that Israel incorporated the Canaanites and their gods into their lifestyle, leading to idolatry within a couple of generations.
Jeremiah 44 as God's Warning Fulfilled
Les references Jeremiah 44 to show God knew exactly what would happen if Israel spared the Canaanites.
God's Judgment at the Golden Calf
Les describes the immorality accompanying the golden calf idolatry and notes that God judged Israel with death.
God's Promise to Forsake Israel
Les quotes God's warning that He would be angry, forsake Israel, and hide His face because of their covenant-breaking.
Ethnic Cleansing Among Israel
Les says God had to do 'ethnic cleansing' and thousands of Israelites died as a result of losing their separation.
Removal From the Land
Les points out that because Israel did not cleanse the land, they went down to the Canaanites' level, and later God removed them from Palestine and allowed the temple to be destroyed.
Deuteronomy 31:17: Then my anger shall be kindled against them in that day, and I will forsake them, and I will hide my face from them, and they shall be devoured, and many evils and troubles shall befall them; so that they will say in that day, Are not these evils come upon us, because our God is not among us?
God directly links Israel's idolatry and covenant-breaking to His anger, forsaking them, and hiding His face.
Exodus 32:35: And the LORD plagued the people, because they made the calf, which Aaron made.
This records God's immediate judgment on Israel for the golden calf idolatry.
Jeremiah 44:16: As for the word that thou hast spoken unto us in the name of the LORD, we will not hearken unto thee.
Israel's defiant response to Jeremiah shows their refusal to turn from idolatry.
Israel's idolatry brought God's anger and judgment. God forsook them, hid His face from them, and they suffered death and loss of their separated position. Les Feldick notes that when Israel lost their separation, judgment immediately fell.
Yes. Les connects Israel's failure to fully dispossess the Canaanites with their eventual removal from Palestine. He also points to God's earlier promise to forsake them and hide His face when they broke His covenant.
Idolatry was a covenant violation, and God treated it seriously. In the golden calf incident and the Balaam episode, thousands died because Israel lost their separated character and gave themselves to immorality.
Watch the Teaching: Why Israel Rejected God as King — 1 Samuel 8 Explained