The Wilderness Generation Receives Sabbath and Statutes yet Rebels

Wherefore I caused them to go forth out of the land of Egypt

I brought them into the wilderness, and I gave them my statutes, and shewed them my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them. Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD that sanctify them.

But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness: they walked not in my statutes, and they despised my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them; and my sabbaths they greatly polluted: then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them in the wilderness, to consume them.

But I wrought for my name's sake

I wrought that it should not be polluted before the heathen, in whose sight I brought them out. Yet I lifted up my hand unto them in the wilderness, that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands; because they despised my judgments, and walked not in my statutes, but polluted my sabbaths: for their heart went after their idols. Nevertheless mine eye spared them from destroying them, neither did I make an end of them in the wilderness.

The critique does not demean Jewish Sabbath keeping or turn law into the opposite of life. Statutes here are life. Sabbaths are a sign of sanctifying. Rebellion is named without making Judaism the villain.