And the Lord said unto Moses, Go, get thee down; for thy people, which thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves: (Exodus 32:7)
God disowned Israel; He no longer spoke of them as “my people” (Ex. 3:10; etc.; cf. Matt. 21:13; 23:28). They had broken their covenant relation with Him, and had “separated” themselves from His care and guidance (Isa. 59:2). Resentment against sin is inherent in the divine character. God loves the sinner, but hates sin. Moses, far removed from the camp, did not know what was going on below.