Return to Hashem and the Accusation of Theft

We can now return to our Haftarah. Hakadosh Baruch Hu comes to Bnei Yisrael and says to them: שׁוּבוּ אֵלַי – Return to Me,” and how do they respond? “בַּמֶּה נָשׁוּב – In what shall we return? What sins do we have?!” Hakadosh Baruch Hu then accuses them of being thieves! The people immediately ask, “In what way have we robbed You? We’re thieves?! How can we steal from You?!” Hakadosh Baruch Hu answers them, “הַמַּעֲשֵׂר וְהַתְּרוּמָה – The tithes and offerings; you’re stealing tithes and offerings!”

We asked the question: If they say they didn’t steal, and surely they’d know if they did, how can it be that Hakadosh Baruch Hu accuses them of theft?! The Brisker Rav...