I thought this was interesting...

    7 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, "Go down at once, for your     people,
whom you brought up from the land of Egypt, have
      corrupted themselves.  8 "They have quickly turned aside from
      the way which I commanded them. They have made for themselves a
      molten calf, and have worshiped it and have sacrificed to it and
      said, 'This is your god, O Israel, who brought you up from the
      land of Egypt!' "  9 The LORD said to Moses, "I have seen this
      people, and behold, they are an obstinate people.  10 "Now then
      let Me alone, that My anger may burn against them and that I may
      destroy them; and I will make of you a great nation."  11 Then
      Moses entreated the LORD his God, and said, "O LORD, why does
      Your anger burn against Your people whom You have brought out
      from the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand?
      12 "Why should the Egyptians speak, saying, 'With evil intent He
      brought them out to kill them in the mountains and to destroy
      them from the face of the earth'? Turn from Your burning anger
      and change Your mind about doing harm to Your people.  13
      "Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, Your servants to whom You
      swore by Yourself, and said to them, 'I will multiply your
      descendants as the stars of the heavens, and all this land of
      which I have spoken I will give to your descendants, and they
      shall inherit it forever.' "  14 So the LORD changed His
mind      about the harm which He said He would do to His people.