THEOSISJohn Chrysostom
After the Israelites left Egypt and journeyed a significant distance, witnessing countless demonstrations of God's might both in Egypt, at the Red Sea, and in the wilderness, they desired to send scouts to explore the characteristics of the promised land. Upon the scouts' return, they marveled at the land’s richness and plentiful produce but reported that it was inhabited by powerful and unconquerable people. In response, the thankless and indifferent Israelites, forgetting the previous blessings from God and His protection against the threats of the Egyptian army, as well as how He allowed them to claim the spoils of victory, and how He provided sustenance by bringing forth water from a rock and sending down manna, chose to overlook these miraculous acts.
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Instead of placing their trust in God, they were overwhelmed by fear and expressed a desire to return to Egypt, lamenting that God had led them out only to bring destruction upon them and their families. Consequently, God, angered by their rapid forgetfulness, declared that the generation who voiced such disbelief would not enter His rest - indeed, they perished in the wilderness.