"Moses vs. Joshua in the Journey to the Promised Land"

Distinguishing the assembly Moses guided from those under Joshua, it's crucial to recall that Moses was appointed by God to free the Israelites from Egyptian bondage.

God's intervention, accompanied by persuasion and a display of divine power, led to Pharaoh's eventual release of the Israelites. In response to Pharaoh's persistence in an unfavorable plan for the Children of Israel, God caused his chariots and charioteers to perish in the Red Sea.

Yet, when faced with even minor challenges, they swiftly reminisce about the past, being willing to trade their freedom for immediate needs. Recognizing this mindset, God understood the necessity of addressing it. The occupants of the Promised Land must possess depth of thought, not succumbing to shallow thinking.

The distinction between those led by Moses and Joshua lies in their perspectives on challenges. Moses' followers attributed difficulties to turning back, whereas Joshua's people viewed each challenge as an opportunity to declare the power of God.

Therefore, the Lord made a distinction between the old and new generations. None from the generation longing for the past entered the promised lands, but their innocent children, under Joshua's leadership, were spared and led to the promised land.

 

Here are instances where the people led by Moses focused on the past instead of the future promised by God.

In the Wilderness of Sin: In this desolate place, the Children of Israel yearned for the past, wishing the Lord had taken their lives back in Egypt. Their nostalgia centered around the times when they gathered around pots filled with meat and enjoyed an abundance of bread. Starving, they craved the advantages once experienced in Egypt, compelling the Lord to rain down food from heaven (see Exodus 16 vs. 3).

In the Wilderness of Rephidim: In Rephidim's wilderness, when plagued by thirst, the people challenged Moses, questioning the presence of the Lord with them: "Is the Lord here with us or not?" In response, the Lord had to supply water from a rock (see Exodus 17 vs. 1–7).

In the Wilderness of Sinai: While Moses stood in the presence of God on Mount Sinai, the people urged Aaron to fashion gods to lead them. At this point, they veered from the path the Lord had instructed, leading to their corruption. Hastily asserting that the gods created from golden calves were responsible for their deliverance from Egypt, they overlooked the fact that there is only one true God. It was through His power and mighty hands that He led them out of the land of Egypt (refer to Exodus 32:1–8).

Here, the Lord erased the names of everyone who had sinned against Him.

In the Wilderness of Kibroth-hattaavah: They named the campsite "Kibroth-hattaavah" as the people longed for the meat they had in Egypt. Complaining bitterly to Moses about their hardships angered the Lord greatly, and Moses reacted with strong displeasure (refer to Numbers 11:4).

In the Wilderness of Paran: Moses dispatched twelve scouts to explore the land of Canaan. Despite only two returning with a positive report, the other ten delivered news that incited the people to rebel against God. Despite the challenges they had overcome, the Israelites wished to return to Egypt. Consequently, the Lord punished them for their disobedience.

Everyone aged twenty and older perished in the wilderness. Although they explored the land for forty days, the Lord decreed a forty-year wandering in the wilderness as a consequence of their sins (refer to Numbers 13:25–33, Numbers 14:1–12, 28–29).

Forty years later, God appointed Joshua to lead the new generation of Israelites to the promised land. This generation pledged obedience to Joshua, vowing to execute anyone who rebelled against the words and commands conveyed by the Lord through him.

There is no record of them yearning for the past or coveting the wealth of Egypt, unlike their predecessors. Their attention was fixed on the promised land and the future plans the Lord had for them. Consequently, the Lord granted Joshua success wherever he treaded, enabling them to accomplish what their forefathers could not.