fear. back then it was basically "serve the right god or be destroyed". they saw all the other powerful nations around when they themselves didnt have a land even yet. so they looked to those "real nations" and constantly picked up their practices thinking it keeps them.alivem thats why god had to made them more afraid of him than death in order for them.to listen for a few minutes. also. trust issues. the people didnt know much of god, at the time of moses having forgotten most of their own history. so when god led them.out of egypt and saw the army approaching they immediatly claimed god led them.only out of egypt because inside there would be no graves left for them anymore and so on. when moses went up the mountain and left them alone for a tiny bit they probably again thought to have been abandoned and picked up the customs of those around them
Germany