Yes—God brought a plague on Israel because they made and worshiped the golden calf and gave themselves to gross immorality around it.
Scripture says plainly, "The LORD plagued the people, because they made the calf." Les points out that around the calf they were in lewd, lascivious dancing and nakedness, and that God judged them for their abject immorality; a few thousand died as a result.
Exodus 32:35 — This verse directly answers the question by stating that the LORD plagued the people because they made the calf, which Aaron made.
Exodus 32 records that while Moses was on the mountain, the people demanded a god and Aaron gathered their gold and fashioned a golden calf. The people declared, "These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt." When Moses came down, he saw them dancing, and Aaron later tried to claim the calf had simply come out of the fire. The chapter concludes with the reason for the plague: "And the LORD plagued the people, because they made the calf, which Aaron made." Before that, the Levites had executed about three thousand men, and the LORD had told Moses that whoever sinned against Him would be blotted out of His book.
Les stresses that Israel made a deliberate choice. They were a people of choice and, of their own volition, demanded a god. Aaron took their gold and crafted the calf—so Les calls Aaron's "out came the calf" story shocking. Les also highlights what the worship actually looked like: lewd, lascivious dancing, nakedness, and abject immorality. That behavior was always part and parcel of idolatry. God hated it, brought a plague on them, and a few thousand died. Les uses this to show God's righteous judgment and, at the same time, the bare human nature Scripture reveals. He also contrasts the calf incident with Israel's later unbelief at Kadesh Barnea: God did not raise the calf immorality there; His controversy was unbelief.
Les says the worship around the golden calf was not a harmless party: the people were in lewd, lascivious dancing and were naked. He calls it abject immorality and explains that such behavior was part and parcel of idolatry. The Scripture says the LORD plagued the people because they made the calf, and Les says God judged them for it.
Aaron collected the gold, melted it down, and crafted it with a graving tool into a molten calf, and the people declared it was their god. Les points out how shocking Aaron's later claim is—that he merely threw the gold in the fire and out came the calf—because Aaron was the one who fashioned it.
Les says no. When Israel reached Kadesh Barnea and refused to enter the land in unbelief, God did not remind them of the golden calf immorality. His controversy was their unbelief—they would not take Him at His word.
God's Plague and the Three Thousand
Les says God brought a plague on Israel because of the calf worship and the gross immorality around it, and he notes that three thousand men fell that day.
Calf Immorality vs. Kadesh Unbelief
Les explains that when Israel later refused to enter the land, God did not bring up the golden calf immorality; His dealing with them was about their unbelief.
Lewd Dancing and Nakedness
Les describes the calf worship as lewd, lascivious dancing in nakedness, showing the gross immorality God had every right to judge.
Israel's Willful Choice
Les stresses that the Israelites were not forced into this—they were a people of choice who demanded a god of their own volition.
Aaron Fashioned the Calf
Les shows that Aaron melted the gold and crafted the calf with a graving tool, so the calf was not supernatural or accidental.
Aaron's Shocking Excuse
Les notes Aaron blamed the pressure of the people and claimed the calf came out of the fire, even though he had made it.
God Judged the Abject Immorality
Les says their behavior around the calf was abject immorality, and God judged them for it, with a few thousand dying.
A Mirror of Bare Human Nature
Les says God included this seemingly ridiculous account in Scripture to show us bare human nature.
Exodus 32:4: And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
Shows Aaron made the calf and the false claim that it had delivered Israel.
Exodus 32:28: And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men.
The immediate execution of the guilty, which Les cites alongside God's plague.
Exodus 32:35: And the LORD plagued the people, because they made the calf, which Aaron made.
The direct answer to why God plagued the people.
Exodus 32:35 says God plagued the people because they made the calf. Les adds that the worship around it was grossly immoral, including nakedness and lewd dancing, and that God judged them, with a few thousand dying.
Les teaches that the people pressured Aaron, but Aaron's excuse that the calf simply came out of the fire is false—Aaron melted the gold and crafted the calf with a graving tool. The people wanted a visible god when Moses seemed delayed.
In the immediate incident, God plagued them for making the calf. Les later contrasts this with Kadesh Barnea, where God's controversy was unbelief, not the golden calf immorality.
Watch the Teaching: Why Aaron Failed: Leadership, Idolatry, and the Golden Calf