A Forty-Year Trip

     The huge family of Abraham (Hebrews) became known at the Israelites. After the Israelites escaped Egyptian slavery, God directed them in their journey to the promised land of Canaan. God had promised to make a great nation out of Abraham’s family, and He did that.

     Nations need laws to guide them, so God gathered His people together at Mt. Sinai and gave them the Ten Commandments and many other laws that instructed them in their daily lives and worship.

     Moses send twelve men on a spying mission into Canaan, the land God would give them. “Go look over the land and people and return to us with a report.” Imagine the disappointment of the huge throng of people when the spies returned with a frightening report. The spies said, “The people who live in Canaan are so large that we appeared as grasshoppers in comparison.” There were two of the twelve spies, however, who said, “Yes, that’s true, but God will help us overcome them and take the land. Besides all that, the fruit is plentiful and good. It’s a land of milk and honey!” The people were so afraid that they said they would rather return to Egypt and slavery.

     God had done so much for the Israelites, and they had already forgotten. The Lord was displeased. He punished them for their unbelief. They could not enter the Promised Land, but their children could enter it after forty years. The Israelites camped in the wilderness all those years. God protected them, giving them food to eat and water to drink. He prevented their clothes and shoes from rotting. God performed magnificent miracles through Moses.

     One day the Israelites complained so much that Moses became impatient with them. They were thirsty. God told Moses to speak to a rock and water would come forth. Moses did not follow God’s instructions. God said since Moses had disobeyed Him, he would not be allowed to enter the Promised Land either.

     Finally, the forty years ended, and God gave instructions for entering the Promised Land. This time a river had to be crossed. God rolled the Jordan River back so the people could walk across on dry land. How excited the multitude of Israelites must have been! They worshiped God.

     Moses had died shortly before the Israelites crossed over the Jordan River. Joshua became the leader of the great nation. God told Joshua to take the promised land of Canaan away from the people who were living there. It was not their land. He had promised it to Abraham’s descendants hundreds of years before that

     Finally, the forty years ended, and God gave instructions for entering the Promised Land. This time a river had to be crossed. God rolled the Jordan River back so the people could walk across on dry land. How excited the multitude of Israelites must have been! They worshiped God.

     Moses had died shortly before the Israelites crossed over the Jordan River. Joshua became the leader of the great nation. God told Joshua to take the promised land of Canaan away from the people who were living there. It was not their land. He had promised it to Abraham’s descendants hundreds of years before that.