The people saw that a long time had passed and Moses had not come down from the mountain. So the people gathered around Aaron. They said to him, “Look, Moses led us out of the land of Egypt. But we don’t know what has happened to him. So make us some gods to go before us and lead us.”
Brothers and sisters, I want you to know that I planned many times to come to you. But I have not been allowed to come to you. I wanted to come so that I could help you grow spiritually. I want to help you like I have helped the other non-Jewish people.
God chose the Israelites to be his people before \{they were born\}. And God did not throw out those people. Surely you know what the Scripture {\cf2\super [115]} says about Elijah. {\cf2\super [116]} The Scripture tells about Elijah praying to God against the people of Israel. Elijah said,
So the life that I live now is not really me—it is Christ living in me. I still live in my body, but I live by faith in the Son of God (Jesus). Jesus is the One who loved me. He gave himself to save me.