What did Israel do at the golden calf while Moses was up in the mountain?
While Moses was up in the mountain, they demanded Aaron make them a golden calf. When Moses came down, they were dancing in lewdness and practicing immorality. God could have destroyed them instantly, but He showed mercy, compassion, and sovereignty.
Les explains that Israel demanded Aaron make them a golden calf while Moses was up in the mountain, and when Moses came down they were dancing in all their lewdness and practicing all their immorality. He points out that God could have reacted without grace and mercy, according to what was fair, and wiped them out—one thought and they would have been gone. But God told Moses later in Deuteronomy 33, 'I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy.' Why? He is sovereign; He can do whatever He wants to do. This illustrates God showing mercy rather than wrath and judgment, and Les uses it as an analogy of how God has repeatedly spared Israel and mankind by grace rather than giving them what they deserve.