The Israelite's make their own creation of God in this chapter. Moses has not yet returned from meeting with God on Mt. Sinai. The people have become impatient, which has led them to make a wrong assumption, (Moses is not coming back) which has caused them to go in a wrong direction, (building a golden calf) which leads them into deep darkness (worshiping a god of their own making) which leads to disaster. However, because Moses interceded on their behalf... for the time being anyway, God relented of bringing the disaster He had spoken of on His people. We can be just like the children of Israel...impatient, stiff-necked and we can allow our culture instead of God's Word to influence our decisions which do not lead to life.
By Dave Bartlett