Israel's oppressed state was due to disobedience. They disobeyed God by worshipping the gods of the Amorites. The Israelites broke the Second Commandment that states "Thou shall have no other gods before me."
God expects us to put him first. We are not worship other gods or things, such as money, television, cars, people, etc. Anything that we but before God Almighty is going against His will.