Deuteronomy 32:15

ISRAEL'S REBELLION (Deuteronomy 32:15-18)

"But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked:

Thou art waxed fat, thou art grown thick, thou art become sleek;

Then he forsook God who made him,

And lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation.

They moved him to jealousy with strange gods;

With abominations provoked they him to anger.

They sacrificed unto demons, which were no God,

To gods that they knew not,

To new gods that came up of late,

Which your fathers dreaded not.

Of the Rock that begat thee thou art unmindful,

And hast forgotten God that gave thee birth."

"Jeshurun" in Deuteronomy 32:15 is a disputed word, but most seem to believe that it is an affectionate designation of Israel used here in a sarcastic or ironic sense. "God's favorite people have rebelled against him!"

"Then he forsook God ..." Israel was doing fine until that happened. This passage reminds us of what Hosea said of Ephraim, "When Ephraim spake, there was trembling; he exalted himself in Israel; but when he offended in Baal, he died!" (Hosea 13:1). Such passages dramatize the fact that the fatal error, the mortal mistake is forgetting God!