These Israelites remind me of America. We praise and worship him when we are afraid. But as soon as the danger seems to subside, we return to our wicked ways. These people forgot a locing an merciful God who pulled out all stops to bring them out of the land of Egypt. Even though he delivered them, they still had the mentally of Egypt. Sure, God knew this. He knew they were not delivered from the ways of the pass. This was the purpose of Moses being brought up to the mountain. These people needed some guidances and some rules to live by. Before God could complete the work that was to be done in them, they sinned.
A loving God can be so angry because when they left Egypt, they left singing his praises. They witnessed what God would do to save them. They knew that Moses and Aaron were representatives of God. Most of all, God had proven himself to all of them. There were no reasons for the blatant disobedience they were doing. It always amazes me when I read this chapter of the response of Aaron. He knew the will of God. How could he have bowed to the pressure of the people? Why did he not refuse?
Moses response to the Lord's anger is Biblical. He tells us over and over again to put Him in remembrance of his promises. This is what Moses did. By doing so, he cooled the anger of the Lord. Moses did not want recognition. He did not need a new generation of people to come through his loins. He needed the people of God that he had been given authority over to come forth in obedience and in the promises that God had made regarding them. God still had not fulfilled his word regarding these people. To not do so would mean that his word would return to him void!
I find it interesting that the very items that God told Moses to get from the Egytians to give them wealth, was used to destroy their innocence. How many times have you seen people who were blessed to have something they have desired, and the next time you saw them, all they did was complain?
Dolly, I have to agree with you. Often, when we do not see an immediate answer, we will go to some great extents to get the answer we are seeking without considering the consequences.