While Moses was with God on Mount Sinai, the Lord told Moses that the people had “corrupted themselves,” in that they “made themselves a molded calf, and worshiped it and sacrificed to it” (Ex. 32:7-8). Moses descended to deal with the people, meeting Joshua who had gone up with him (24:13). Joshua heard noise that he thought was the “noise of war in the camp” (32:17), but Moses knew better. Moses said it was “the sound of singing” (32:18). They came near the camp and Moses “saw the calf and the dancing” and his “anger became hot” (32:19).
The people THOUGHT that they were doing right. They were told, “This is your god” (32:4). They were told to offer “burnt offerings” and “peace offerings” on the altar that had been built, as a worshipful “feast to the Lord” 32:5-6). But their worship provoked God’s “wrath” (32:10).
CALLING something “worship” does NOT make it worship! THINKING that something is acceptable to God does NOT make it acceptable to God! May God help us to worship HIM exactly as HE has directed (John 4:23-24), not as man might find appealing!