Exodus 32:1 And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we don’t know what is become of him.
Thus, as the popular sentiment in favor of idolatry gained momentum at Mt Sinai, even those who had previously had good conviction of conscience, then reasoned away the truth on one pretext or another, and at the end of the day as the tsunami of unbelief swept over the multitudes, most of them ended up going with the flow.
[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 316>317] Aaron feebly remonstrated with the people, but his wavering and timidity at the critical moment only rendered them the more determined. The tumult increased. A blind, unreasoning frenzy seemed to take possession of the multitude. There were some who remained true to their covenant with God, but the greater part of the people joined in the apostasy.
A few who ventured to denounce the proposed image making as idolatry, were set upon and roughly treated, and in the confusion and excitement they finally lost their lives.
Exodus 32:5 And when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, Tomorrow is a feast to the Lord. 6 And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.
May God add His blessing to the study of His word. “Good night” and God bless!