The answer is: They didn't know what had happened to Moses

Exo 32:1

In the hush of the wilderness, the Israelites found themselves in a challenging situation. They had just experienced unprecedented miracles, which included parting seas and manna from heaven, yet something critical was missing: the visible assurance of leadership. When Moses ascended the mountain for an extended stay, fear and uncertainty began to seep into their camp. Without Moses, the communicator of God’s commands, they felt lost—a powerful reminder of the human need for tangible leaders.

In their distress, they turned to their old ways and leadership—all detailed in idol worship common in Egyptian society. The golden calf, famously crafted from their jewelry, became a perverse symbol of their anxiety and desire for control. They aimed to redirect their faith towards something they could see and touch—an echo of their former lives.

Interestingly, the golden calf wasn’t simply a diversion. It represents moments in our own lives when we opt for security over spirituality, trading genuine connection for instant gratification, a ropeway to easy comfort. Fast forward to today, many repeated their mistake by trusting in worldly ideologies rather than seeking deeper spiritual truths.

Moreover, the motions they went through, celebrating with revelry (Exodus 32:6), reflect a collective human experience of all societies—when fear drives excitement for something concrete. In observing the sad irony that the holiest moments often face unnerving human floundering, we learn the importance of direct and lasting faith connections—often leading us back to essential spiritual grounding.