God did not just give his laws to Israel once, and then say no more. That ought to have been enough.
We learn how God disciplines his people. He does it with great patience. He speaks to us many times, to bring us back to our senses. He does not immediately use maximum force, but first sends warnings, and only if we continue in our sins do they become increasingly severe. It is a fearful thing to ignore the chastisements of the Lord, because we can be sure that God will not ignore our sin. We ought rather to respond early, and, from the mildness of his initial approach, to draw encouragement to repent.