In a mere forty days of Moses being away, the Israelites lost sight of who they were and Whom they belonged to. That would make it just over a month for them to lose focus and regress into their old way of life. The motivation behind the Israelites making a golden calf had to do with their own insecurities and a lack of persistent faith in the God who had walked so far with them, consistently performing the supernatural in their midst. The Bible says they had no lack, every need was taken care of, and there was not one feeble among them! Yet they were more concerned with holding onto their past way of life than enjoying their freedom and personal, attentive care of their God. They were determined to keep Him at a distance. When He wanted to speak to them up close, they recoiled out of fear. The plan God has for our lives is far greater than we can even begin to comprehend. Not only is it great, it includes Him being personally involved in every detail! If we choose to remain faithful in our devotion to Him, there is no end to His goodness, mercy, and many benefits in our lives.