It was not the will of God that the coming of Christ should be thus delayed. God did not design that His people, Israel, should wander forty years in the wilderness. He promised to lead them directly to the land of Canaan, and establish them there a holy, healthy, happy people. But those to whom it was first preached, went not in “because of unbelief.” Their hearts were filled with murmuring, rebellion, and hatred, and He could not fulfill His covenant with them. {Ev 696.1}

Det var ikke Guds vilje at Kristi komme skulle forhales sådan. Gud havde ikke planlagt at Hans folk, Israel, skulle strejfe omkring i ørkenen i fyrre år. Han lovede at lede dem direkte til Kanaans land, og oprette et helligt, sundt og lykkeligt folk på det sted. Men dem det først blev forkyndt til, gik ikke ind "på grund af vantro". Deres hjerter var fyldt med knurren, oprør og had, og Han kunne ikke opfylde Sin pagt med dem.