17. But I had pity on them. I did not destroy them. I did not put an end to them in the desert.
18. I said to their children in the desert, “Don’t live by the rules of your fathers. Don’t obey their laws. Don’t make yourselves unclean with their idols.
19. I am the Lord your God. Live by my rules. Obey my laws and do them.
20. Keep my Sabbaths holy. They will be a sign between me and you. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.”
21. “‘But the people turned against me. If a person obeys my laws, he will live. But they did not live by my rules. They were not careful to obey my laws. They dishonored my Sabbaths. So I decided to pour out my anger against them. I decided to carry out my anger against them in the desert.
22. But I held back my anger. I acted for the sake of my name. Then my name would not be dishonored with the nations watching. As the nations watched, I had brought the Israelites out from Egypt.
23. Also in the desert I had to make a promise to the Israelites. I had to promise to scatter them among the nations and spread them among the countries.