The Hebrews were cruelly unbelieving and basely ungrateful in their impious request: “Make us gods, which shall go before us.” If Moses was absent, the presence of the Lord remained; they were not forsaken. The manna continued to fall, and they were fed by a divine hand morning and evening. The cloudy pillar by day and the pillar of fire by night signified the presence of God, which was a living memorial before them. The divine presence was not dependent upon the presence of Moses. But at the very time that he was pleading with the Lord in the mount in their behalf, they were rushing into shameful errors, into transgression of the law so recently given in grandeur. {3T 340.1}

Hebræerne var ubarmhjertigt vantroende og i bund og grund utaknemmelige i deres ugudelige anmodning: »Kom og lav os en gud, som kan drage foran os.« Selvom Moses var fraværende, forblev Guds tilstedeværelse; de var ikke tilgivende. Mannaen fortsatte med at falde og de fik føde af en guddommelig hånd morgen og aften. Skystøtten om dagen og ildstøtten om natten tilkendegav Guds tilstedeværelse, som var et levende mindesmærke for dem. Den guddommelige tilstedeværelse var ikke afhængig af Moses tilstedeværelse. Men på det tidspunkt da han gik i forbøn for Herren for sit folk, styrtede folket sig i skammelig vildfarelse, i overtrædelse af den lov der for nylig blev overbragt så prægtigt.