In this context, he responded: “If I do not see it, I do not believe it.” He wanted to see with his own eyes whether or not they had actually made an eigel and bowed down to it or merely intended to do so. Yet: “As he approached the camp, he saw the eigel and the dances. Moshe became enraged; he threw down the luchos from his hands and shattered them.” He witnessed that they had actually sinned—not merely intended to sin. Hence, he reacted appropriately and expressed his rage by shattering the luchos.
Based on this version of the incident, Chazal added a lesson of vital importance regarding lashon hara: Woe to those people who testify about what they have not seen. Is it possible that Moses did not believe HKB”H, Who said to him: “For your people have acted corruptly”? Rather, Moshe was teaching Yisrael proper conduct. Even if a person hears a matter from a trustworthy individual, it is prohibited to accept his testimony and to take action based on his word if he has not seen it. Elsewhere, Chazal take this a step further (Avos 1, 6): "והוי דן את כל האדם לכף זכות"—not only is it prohibited to receive and accept lashon-hara about a fellow Jew, but one should judge every person favorably. In this merit, may HKB”H also judge every one of us favorably and grant us an eternal geulah, swiftly in our times! Amen.
