In Bible times, attempts by God's people to worship Him through idols frequently resulted in negative consequences. The Bible consistently teaches that worshiping God should be done in spirit and truth, without the aid of physical representations or idols.
One notable example is found in the book of Exodus when the Israelites, after escaping from Egypt, constructed a golden calf to worship while Moses was on Mount Sinai receiving the Ten Commandments. This act of idolatry was seen as a severe betrayal of God, and upon Moses' return, he was angered to find the people engaged in this form of worship. As a result, Moses broke the tablets containing the commandments in his anger and confronted the people. God also executed judgment against those who participated in the idol worship, leading to the death of about 3,000 people (Exodus 32:19-35).
Another example is seen in the reigns of several kings of Israel and Judah, like King Jeroboam, who set up golden calves in the cities of Bethel and Dan, leading the people away from true worship and contributing to their spiritual decline (1 Kings 12:28-30).
Overall, these instances emphasize that God desires genuine worship and loyalty. When His people turned to idols or allowed them to influence their worship practices, it typically resulted in divine displeasure and consequences.