How did God punish their sin of idolatry?

Answer 1

Since the assigned category is "The Bible"... we'll assume "Israel" is the "they" in question.

"You, LORD, have abandoned your people, the descendants of Jacob. They are full of superstitions from the East; they practice divination like the Philistines and embrace pagan customs. The land is full of silver and gold; there is no end to their treasures. Their land is full of horses; there is no end to their chariots. Their land is full of idols; they bow down to the work of their hands, to what their fingers have made. So people will be brought low and everyone humbled-- DO NOT FORGIVE THEM." (Isa.2:6-9 NIV)

God's "physical" punishment for Israel's sins against Him was, that they "ceased to be a nation!"

This question is also sub-categorized under "Christianity"... which brings to bear the "Spiritual" aspect of idolatry, sins... and punishment. Jesus reveals that man's "physical acts" of sin [idolatry, adultery, murder, theft, lying, etc - Matt.5:21-28] begin with a THOUGHT[which is SPIRITUAL]. The thought then, when nurtured and fed, leads to the act.

Most of Paul's writings were directed at the "Gentile" churches that he was commissioned by God to establish. Gentiles are people REARED, not in the ways and laws of God, but in idol worship [a worship that can entail ANYTHING made by man's hands; children, toys, cars, houses, high-tech electronics, etc. -- that men revere above, and distract them from their Creator].

Jesus Christ... the Creator God of the Old Testament [John 1:3] doesn't change. He still demands -- "THOU SHALT HAVE NO OTHER GODS BEFORE ME." And no man can "serve two masters."

Those who would profess Christ [Gentile or Jew] must put away their "idols"... or they are simply worshiping a different master:

"Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry. I speak to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. Is not the cup of Thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ?... Consider the people of Israel: Do not those who eat the sacrifices participate in the altar? Do I mean that food sacrificed to idols is anything, or that the idol is anything? NO, but the sacrifices of the pagans ARE OFFERED TO DEMONS, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons. You CANNOT drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you CANNOT have a part in both the Lord's table and the table of demons..." (I Cor.10:14-21 NIV).

The Bible reveals that the ancient unrepentant mortal tribes of Israel lost their citizenship as God's nation through their idolatry. And they disappeared as a nation... scattered among the Gentile nations of the world.

Christians who refuse to abandon their idols... are not truly Christ's unless repented of. And the Bible reveals that all who refuse to repent of idolatry and other sins will lose out on their "citizenship in the Nation [Kingdom] of God."

"He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be My Son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and IDOLATERS, and all liars, shall have their part in the Lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the Second Death." (Rev.21:7-8)

The "works" [the acts] men do in their lives... their "labors"... EARN each of us a REWARD... or WAGES. And God reveals to us that our "works of sin" [our transgressions; breaking, of His Commandments -- I John 3:4 - our failure to love one another] earns men the "wages of DEATH" [Rom.6:23].

Further study reveals that the "first death" that's "appointed" to all men [Heb.9:27] isn't the final "wages" we earn for our "works"... but that there is a "Second Death" coming on the world that can be avoided, overcome and defeated through Jesus Christ.

"Punishment" is intended as a "TEMPORARY" corrective measure and "reward" for improper behavior... to bring the one punished around to a "right way of thinking and acting." To purge them of their evil thoughts and acts.

But, in the coming Judgment of all mankind at the "Last Great Day"... all will have the Spirit of God's Truth revealed to them. And all who then refuse to repent... and refuse God's Forgiveness, Grace and Mercy will be punished with the "PERMANENT REWARD" of the Second Death [Rev.20:14].

"And, behold, I come quickly; and MY REWARD IS WITH ME, to give every man according as his work shall be." (Rev.22:12)

The "punishment" the ancient scattered Israelites received for their "evil works" [idolatry; and other things] in direct opposition against God with Whom they had a "marriage [covenant] agreement"... was a TEMPORARY MEASURE... until the Last Day, Judgment Day, when it will be revealed whether or not they have learned their lesson. Which Paul prophesys will yield a favorable outcome:

"I don't want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in, and in this way ALL ISRAEL WILL BE SAVED. As it is written: The Deliverer will come from Zion; He will turn godlessness away from Jacob. And this is My covenant with them when I take away their sins." (Rom.11:25-27 NIV)

And, while on the subject of "they"... any nation that professes Christ would do well to pay heed to the lesson of God's "national punishment" for idolatry. It's recorded for the end time generations of man for a reason.