And then what happened? Well, when Israel tried to be right with God on her own, pursuing her own self-interest, she didn’t succeed. The chosen ones of God were those who let God pursue his interest in them, and as a result received his stamp of legitimacy. The “self-interest Israel” became thick-skinned toward God. Moses and Isaiah both commented on this:Fed up with their quarrelsome, self-centered ways,God blurred their eyes and dulled their ears,Shut them in on themselves in a hall of mirrors,and they’re there to this day.David was upset about the same thing:I hope they get sick eating self-serving meals,break a leg walking their self-serving ways.I hope they go blind staring in their mirrors,get ulcers from playing at god.