The people of Israel had been ready to ascribe their troubles to Moses; but now their suspicions that he was controlled by pride, ambition, or selfishness, were removed, and they listened with confidence to his words. Moses faithfully set before them their errors and the transgressions of their fathers. They had often felt impatient and rebellious because of their long wandering in the wilderness; but the Lord had not been chargeable with this delay in possessing Canaan; He was more grieved than they because He could not bring them into immediate possession of the Promised Land, and thus display before all nations His mighty power in the deliverance of His people. With their distrust of God, with their pride and unbelief, they had not been prepared to enter Canaan. They would in no way represent that people whose God is the Lord; for they did not bear His character of purity, goodness, and benevolence. Had their fathers yielded in faith to the direction of God, being governed by His judgments and walking in His ordinances, they would long before have been settled in Canaan, a prosperous, holy, happy people. Their delay to enter the goodly land dishonored God and detracted from His glory in the sight of surrounding nations.

Israels folk havde givet Moses skylden for alle deres besværligheder, men nu blev deres mistanke om, at han havde været besjælet af stolthed, ærgerrighed og selviskhed, fejet bort, og de lyttede tillidsfuldt til hans ord. Moses foreholdt dem pligttro deres fejl og deres fædres synder. De havde ofte været utålmodige og oprørske, fordi de skulle vandre så længe i ørkenen, men det var ikke Herrens skyld, at de ikke tog Kanaan i besiddelse med det samme. Hans sorg var større end deres, fordi han ikke kunne give dem det forjættede land straks og således udfri sit folk ved sin store magt for øjnene af alle nationerne. De var ikke beredt til at drage ind i Kanaan, fordi de var stolte og vantro og ikke stolede på Gud. Man ville slet ikke kunne se, at de var det folk, som havde Gud til herre, for de havde ikke hans rene, ædle karakter. Hvis deres fædre i tro havde bøjet sig for Guds befalinger, rettet sig efter hans domme og adlydt hans bud, ville de for længst være kommet ind i Kanaan og være blevet et fremgangsrigt, helligt og lykkeligt folk. Gud blev vanæret, fordi de var så længe om at drage ind i det herlige land, og hans anseelse dalede i de omkringboende folks øjne.