The Israelites had ENTHUSIASM (before Moses went up the mountain), but lacked COMMITMENT and were easily swayed with the slightest setback. (Are you committed to your Faith? Are you even enthused about your Faith?)
Aaron yielded to peer pressure. He tried to syncretize God. But all worship is not the same. Stand up for the true God/ the true Faith with your peers!
Aaron made a god in an image they liked, instead of worshipping the true God the way He is. The calf represented Money, Power, and Sex. Do you place any of these things above God, as evidenced by your goals, activities, time spent?
V14 God is immutable. He doesn’t change his mind. (Though the text suggests he did.) God operates out of our time/space continuum. Though you have free will, he knows what you will do and can use that as a teaching moment.
(Master chess-player vs. novice analogy.)
Catholic Doctrine Bible Study