The Wilderness Wanderings
The Wilderness Wanderings
rom Sinai, God led the Israelites through "the great and terrible wilderness" to Kadesh (the border of the promised land). Moses sent 12 spies, one from
each of the 12 tribes of Israel, into Canaan to explore the land. The spies
returned with glowing reports of the fruitfulness of the land. They brought back
samples of its figs and pomegranates and a cluster of grapes so large that it had
to be carried between two men on a pole (Num. 13:1-25)
The majority of the spies, however, voted against the invasion of the land
because of the huge inhabitants of Canaan, and fortified cities "walled to heaven". It was a report of doom. Yet two of the spies, Joshua and Caleb, brought
back a report full of faith and encouragement.
Num 13:30-33
But the men who had gone up with him said, "We are not able to go up against
the people, for they are stronger than we." And they gave the children of Israel
a bad report of the land which they had spied out, saying, "The land through
which we have gone as spies is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the
people whom we saw in it are men of great stature. "There we saw the giants
(the descendants of Anak came from the giants); and we were like grasshoppers in
our own sight, and so we were in their sight." . . . Then Caleb quieted the
people before Moses, and said, "Let us go up at once and take possession, for we
are well able to overcome it."
But the people lost heart and rebelled, refusing to enter Canaan and crying
for a new leader who would take them back to Egypt. To punish them for their lack
of faith, God condemned all of that generation, except Caleb and Joshua, to
perish in the wilderness for 40 years (Num. 14:26-38). All those 20 years old and
up would indeed perish in the wilderness with the exception of Joshua and
Caleb.
During these years of wandering in the wilderness, Moses' patience was
continually tested by the murmurings, grumblings, and complaints of the people. At one
point, Moses' patience reached its breaking point and he sinned against the
Lord, in anger against the people. When the people again grumbled against Moses,
saying they had no water, the Lord told Moses to speak to the rock and water
would flow forth. Instead, Moses lifted his hand and struck the rock twice with
his rod. Apparently because he disobeyed the Lord in this act, Moses was not
permitted to enter the Promised Land (Num. 20:1-13). That privilege would belong
to his successor, Joshua.
After 40 years the sandglass ran out and Moses brought the tribes back to
Kadesh. They camped on the plains of Moab where Moses spoke to them for the last
time. Moses then turned his leadership over to Joshua. God led him to the top of
Mount Nebo to see the land and there Moses died.
The Story of the Bible