God first takes Israel out of Egypt and brings them to Sinai, without much moral merit or effort on their part. Once there, He gives them His factory authorized life instruction manual, Torah. Dictators also give codes of law, but theirs are simple instructions, about which no one need think deeply. God promises much, but contingent on Israel doing its share. Despite this ideal, Moshe admits that Israel now needs captains of 10's, captains of 50's, etc.
Many rabbis remain aloof from the people, who then look to non-Jewish sources for inspiration.