Forty Years in the Desert

God’s people had walked a long, long way, and at last they came to the edge of a beautiful land God had promised to give them. It was full of good food and tall trees and sweet fruit. They were almost home!

So twelve men went to explore the land. When they came back, they carried fruit so big it took two men to hold one bunch of grapes! But ten of the men were shaking with fear. “There are giants in that land,” they said. “Next to them we feel as small as little grasshoppers!”

Only two men, Caleb and Joshua, were brave. “Don’t be afraid!” they said. “Yes, the land has giants, but God is with us. God is bigger than any giant. He promised to help us, and He will!”

But the people listened to the scared men instead. They cried all night and said, “Let’s go back to Egypt!” They forgot how strong and kind God was. They did not trust Him.

Because they would not trust God, the people had to wait a long time in the desert — forty whole years! But even then, God did not leave them. Every morning He sent special bread called manna so they always had food. He gave them water, and their clothes and shoes never wore out the whole time.

God was teaching them to trust Him one day at a time. And one day their children — who had grown up trusting God — got to walk right into the wonderful land. God kept His promise after all.