They did not want to be a Chosen People held accountable for their transgressions. Instead they wanted a reticent God who withheld his wrath while they set out to make the world amenable to their own purposes.
Two massive world wars, plus many other great and fearsome wars and tragedies later we should have learned our lesson. God is the center and we must do His bidding or the price has and will be paid in great pain, sorrow and bloodshed. Now it's looks like the price is heading towards gruesome slavery in a communistic style dictatorship. I wonder if there is still time to repent; possibly a sliver.