On the other hand, in times of great tribulation, from which deliverance is still possible, in times of remorse and repentance an encouraging message of salvation is in keeping. When Jeremiah called for surrender and acceptance of the yoke of the king of Babylon, he knew that the people could no longer be purified and restored to the true path except through arduous sufferings involving the destruction of the temple and the yoke of exile. The work of rebuilding could not be contemplated before the process of destruction and uprooting had been endured. The same applies to our subject. Now matters could not be remedied without them accepting what had been imposed on them.
Divine punishment is itself the cure for their ills, the path of repentance.
It was therefore part of the Divine wisdom to make them wander around the wilderness until they had become schooled in courage. For, as is well know, a nomadic existence under spartan conditions breeds courage, and the reverse, cravenness. In addition a new generation of people grew up who had known no humiliation and bondage.