Comment: Except for Joshua and Caleb, the other spies who went secretly to see how the land of Canaan was, reported back that though the land was very fertile, the inhabitants were too strong for them. This raised panic in the camp – and they decided to return to Egypt. For such show of open rebellion, God Almighty said He will destroy them. But after the pleading of Moses, the punishment was modified to be that all the people who were 20 years and above would not reach the promised land – and the duration of their stay in the wilderness would be 40 years, “a day for a year”. God does not tolerate faithlessness among the people whom He had shown His favour, Who have known that He exists. He declared  “But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD.” (Numbers 14:20-24. See also verses 28-38) “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, (Holy Spirit) And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.”  – Hebrews 6:4-6.