The Israelites who started out of Egypt were led by Moses who was the one chosen deliverer by God. However, the people kept turning back to the comforts of Egypt and were apprehensive about the promise of God. Scriptures state that they did not enter Canaan because of unbelief. Unbelief leads to disobedience and disobedience is sin against God.

Everyone of them, except two - Joshua and Caleb - forfeited their privilege to inherit God's promise of the land flowing with milk and honey. All fell dead in the wilderness. Those who were born during their unbelieving parents' sojourn in the wilderness were the ones who entered the promised land.

The Lord had his own men among the spies. Caleb of the tribe of Judah, was of the believing remnant of Israel and so was Joshua. Caleb, the elder of the two said, “Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it”. – Num 13:30. They spoke encouragingly saying, “The Lord is with us. Fear them not” – Num 14:9. The people believed the report of the pessimistic ten than the reassuring two and wanted to go back to Egypt. The Lord saw the unbelief of His people and ruled that none of them except Caleb and Joshua would set foot in the promised land. Everybody else who had seen the mighty hand of the Lord at work in Egypt, who were delivered by the Lord from the hands of the Pharaoh and lead out from the land of bondage would die in the wilderness, forfeiting the possession of the land to their children and grand-children.