Final answer:
The Israelites didn't listen to Moses because of their attachment to Egyptian customs, hardships faced during the journey, and influence of surrounding pagan cultures.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the book of Exodus, the Israelites didn't listen to Moses for several reasons. Firstly, they had grown accustomed to the Egyptian way of life, including their polytheistic worship practices. So, when Moses led them out of Egypt and introduced monotheism, it was difficult for them to abandon their old beliefs. Secondly, the Israelites faced a lot of hardships during their journey through the desert, such as scarcity of water and food, which made them lose faith in Moses as their leader. Lastly, the Israelites were influenced by the surrounding pagan cultures and were easily swayed to worship idols like the golden calf.