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Lets see... The trip across the desert could have taken 11 days. The Israelites took about a year for this journey, but a lot of that time was taken up with instructing the people on God's ways. These people had worked as slaves, had not seen miracles of God, had limited knowledge of God's ways. When they arrived at the edge of their destination, They became afraid of the current inhabitants, did not trust God to deliver the gift He had promised...So God gets upset with their response and makes them wait 40 years and will try again to give his gift to these people's kids and grandkids. ---Makes me think of a parent with a couple of kids. Mom has promised a gift to Little Joe but when Joe gets home to get his gift Big Steve is holding the gift Little Joe has been promised. ... Instead of saying "Mom help" or Mom, you promised, How?"... the Israelites are basically saying- God you gave, these other guys have my gift, they are to big for me to fight, you can't do anything, you won't help, poor pitiful me... So..no wonder God became hurt with the response He received from His gift. " Hey, this is what is nice about this gift but it has this little imperfection I will not use it ", ...I keep seeing more and more emotional responses from God, Moses was able to get God to change His mind - just by talking to him and presenting a different viewpoint. I am so enjoying this journey through the Bible and in effect witnessing the relationship of Moses and God, learning how I can have a closer relationship with God.