Question
After the Israelites saw Moses part an entire sea and have it stay that way while the slaves escaped, how can they possibly doubt G-d and build the idol of the Golden Calf? Wasn’t it obvious that G-d was with them?
Answer
They didn’t build the calf because they didn’t believe. They built the calf because they were confused and that is what they were used to in Egypt. Also, only 3,000 took part in the calf incident out of millions that were there. The others were also punished, not for participating, but for not taking steps to stop the transgressors.
All the Best,
Rabbi Azriel Schreiber