Before we are too hard on the Israelites and judge them hastily, we need to look at the why's behind their disbelief. Instead, they were people like you and me, with hurts and desires and frustrated dreams and confusion when circumstances did not go their way. Focusing on the obstacles distorted their vision of reality and caused the problems to seem threatening and insurmountable. In your own life, the biggest obstacles to belief and enduring faith are not the giants that stand in your path, such as the loss of a job or a setback in a personal relationship or disappointment. The root obstacles are of a spiritual and emotional nature.
Fear can paralyze the stoutest of hearts.
More than likely your pulse rate rose as your heart pounded in your chest. When we perceive a threat to our well-being, we often are afraid that the overall plan for our lives is jeopardized in some way. That is why remembering the promises of God is so important. The Israelites were led astray by the negative report because they forgot God's promise to give them the land of Canaan. Sadly, an entire generation of God's people missed out on the realization of this promise when they ignored the reality of God's faithfulness.