Deuteronomy 2:14-15 New International Version (NIV)
14 Thirty-eight years passed from the time we left Kadesh Barnea until we crossed the Zered Valley. By then, that entire generation of fighting men had perished from the camp, as the Lord had sworn to them. 15 The Lord’s hand was against them until he had completely eliminated them from the camp.
The Israelites did not have to spend 40 years wandering, but they rejected God’s love, rebelled, and ignored God’s commands for right living. They willfully broke the agreement. They disobeyed. Life’s journey can be more difficult than necessary by disobedience. What can you do? Accept God’s love. Read the Bible and follow God’s commands. Make a promise to stick with God in whatever situation you find yourself. Your life will be less complicated and more rewarding.