God removed Israel from His sight because they persisted in idolatry, refused to hear His prophets, and lost their set-apart position.
Les Feldick teaches that Israel was called to be a separated people, but as soon as they lost that separation, God's judgment fell (Clip 1). They incorporated the Canaanites into their lifestyle and went after their gods (Clip 6), killed the prophets God sent (Clip 5), and refused to straighten up, so God removed them from the land—first through Assyria and Babylon (Clips 4, 7), and later through Rome after they rejected Christ (Clip 2). Yet God promised to bring them back (Clip 4).
Jeremiah 44:15 — This verse records the people's knowledge of the widespread idolatrous incense burning, setting the stage for their defiant response.
Jeremiah 44:16 — This verse directly shows Israel's refusal to listen to God's word, a key evidence of the stubborn apostasy that led to God's judgment.
The Bible shows Israel's persistent refusal to turn from idolatry. In Jeremiah 44:15-16, when the prophet Jeremiah confronted the people who had fled to Egypt, both the men and women acknowledged that incense had been burned to other gods, yet they responded: 'As for the word that thou hast spoken unto us in the name of the LORD, we will not hearken unto thee.' This was not a one-time lapse but a stubborn continuation in the sins that had characterized Israel throughout the Old Testament.
Les Feldick explains that God removed Israel because Israel lost her separated character. From the call of Abraham, Israel was meant to be a nation under God's sovereign kingship, set apart to take the knowledge of God to the heathen. But when Israel mingled with the Canaanites and adopted their gods, God's judgment fell. Les points to the incident with Balaam where 23,000 Jews died after being seduced into idolatry (Clip 1). He also notes that Israel incorporated the Canaanites into their lifestyle instead of cleansing the land, and soon turned headlong after their gods (Clip 6). Les emphasizes that God had warned through the prophets that He would remove Israel from the land if they refused to straighten up. Israel not only ignored the prophets but killed them (Clip 5). God then used the Assyrians to take the ten northern tribes away, and later Nebuchadnezzar to carry the two southern tribes to Babylon (Clips 4, 7). Even when Jeremiah spoke to them in God's name, the people—especially the women—defiantly answered that they would not hearken (Clip 0). After the return from Babylon, Israel rejected the Son when He came, and they continued to reject the apostles' overtures. In 70 A.D., God again took them out of the land, the temple was destroyed, and they were dispersed into every nation on earth (Clips 2, 3). Yet Les reminds us that God has promised to bring them back, and He is gathering them from the four quarters of the world (Clip 4).
Israel's removal was driven by persistent idolatry and refusal to hear God's messengers. Les shows that the people burned incense to other gods (Jeremiah 44:15-16) and even insisted they would not listen to Jeremiah's warning (Clip 0). They also incorporated the Canaanites into their lifestyle and turned away from Jehovah to the gods of the Canaanites (Clip 6). Their loss of separation made them indistinguishable from the nations around them (Clip 1).
God used foreign nations as His instruments of judgment. Les notes that Assyria took the ten northern tribes into captivity, and Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon later carried the two southern tribes out of the land (Clips 4, 7). Centuries later, after Israel rejected Christ and the apostles, the Romans destroyed the temple in 70 A.D. and dispersed the nation (Clips 2, 3).
Yes. Les teaches that despite the judgments, God has promised to bring Israel back to their land. God took them out repeatedly, but He also said He would bring them back. Les points out that in the twentieth century, God has been regathering the Jewish people from the four quarters of the world (Clip 4).
Defiant Refusal to Hear
Les shows the people's stubborn refusal to obey God's word in Jeremiah's day, as the wives led in burning incense to other gods.
Loss of Separation Brings Judgment
Les teaches that Israel was a separated people only as long as they knew God and His word; when they lost that separation, God's judgment fell, as in the 23,000 deaths after the Balaam incident.
70 A.D. Dispersal
Les explains that after Israel rejected Christ, God dispersed them into the main stream of humanity and placed them in spiritual blindness.
Removal for Rebellion and Promise of Return
Les teaches that God removed Israel from Palestine because of their rebellion and crucifixion of Christ, but promised to bring them back; the land is still theirs.
Repeated Removals and Regathering
Les highlights that God took the ten tribes to Assyria and the two tribes to Babylon, and later scattered them at 70 A.D., yet He is now bringing them back according to His promises.
Israel Killed the Prophets
Les reminds us that Israel killed the prophets God sent, and even later rejected His Son.
Incorporating Canaanites and Idolatry
Les teaches that Israel's failure to cleanse the land caused them to adopt Canaanite gods and abandon Jehovah.
Babylonian Exile as Predicted Judgment
Les explains that God had promised through the prophets to remove Israel if they did not straighten up, and Nebuchadnezzar was the instrument God used.
Jeremiah 44:15: Then all the men which knew that their wives had burned incense unto other gods, and all the women that stood by, a great multitude, even all the people that dwelt in the land of Egypt, in Pathros, answered Jeremiah, saying,
This verse shows that the people knew about the idolatrous incense-burning and participated in large numbers.
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.
This is the people's direct refusal to obey God's word, which Les uses as evidence of their apostasy.
God removed Israel because they persisted in idolatry and refused to hear His prophets. Les Feldick explains that as soon as Israel lost their separated character, God's judgment fell (Clip 1).
No. The ten northern tribes were taken to Assyria first (Clip 4). Later the two southern tribes were carried to Babylon (Clips 4, 7). Still later, after rejecting Christ, the whole nation was dispersed by Rome in 70 A.D. (Clip 2).
Yes. Les teaches that God promised to bring them back and is currently regathering them from the four quarters of the world (Clip 4).
Watch the Teaching: Why Israel Rejected God as King — 1 Samuel 8 Explained