Deuteronomy 1:27
And ye murmured in your tents, and said, Because the LORD hated us, he hath brought us forth out of the land of Egypt, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us. And ye murmured in your tents, and said, Because the LORD hated us, he hath brought us forth out of the land of Egypt, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us.
Israel stood at the very border of the promised land when, after the spies returned from Canaan, fear and unbelief turned into rebellion against the command to enter. The spies' unbelieving report stirred the people to that rebellion at the very edge of the land they were to possess.
This complaint belongs to the rehearsal of Israel's forty years of failures and victories contained in Deuteronomy. That rehearsal was given just before the possession of Jericho to strengthen faith and keep God's dealings before the people. It was to be repeated over and over, with every new move carrying out the principles given.
What the people did was murmur in their tents, charging that because the Lord hated them He had brought them out of the land of Egypt to deliver them into the hand of the Amorites to destroy them. Their fathers are described in the same terms, murmuring in their tents and charging God with hatred and with bringing them out of Egypt to deliver them to destruction.
Their words and complaints expressed unbelief in God's promise. That unbelief was distrust joined with pride, impatience, dissatisfaction and rebellion. Their murmuring was rebellious and willfully disobedient, despite their earlier agreement to follow God's directions and despite efforts to make their wilderness journey a time of preparation and training. Such disaffection takes root quickly in unsanctified hearts. Their conduct opposed plans essential to their present good and eternal welfare, for which obedience to God and cooperation with Him were necessary.
God was in no way chargeable for their misfortunes and long delay in possessing Canaan. He had been faithful to His promises, loving and compassionate like a father rather than a stern relentless judge, pardoning their transgressions and retaining them as His people. He grieved more than they did that He could not bring them into immediate possession of the land to display His mighty power in their deliverance before all nations. Their perversity of spirit made it impossible for Him to manifest His power in protecting them from the opposing nations, and His wrath was kindled against them again and again.
The fault lay with Israel and their fathers, who broke their solemn pledge and transgressed His holy requirements. By murmuring, unbelief and refusal to wholly follow Him they did not bear His character of purity, goodness and benevolence and were not prepared to enter Canaan and represent a people whose God is the Lord. God's promises, being upon condition of obedience, were forfeited, His purpose toward them was altered, and the adults of the army that left Egypt were refused entrance into the promised land.
Had they yielded in faith to His direction as a nation governed by His judgments and as individuals walking in His ordinances, they would long before have been settled in Canaan as a prosperous, holy, happy people. Their delay to enter the goodly land dishonored God and detracted from His glory in the sight of surrounding nations. Yet true sorrow for sin and heartfelt repentance would still bring pardon.
The verse is presented as the Lord's words and is written for the admonition of those living at the end of the world. It calls them to learn God's word and appreciate and obey His voice instead of holding fast to their own ideas and judgment and refusing to be molded after His similitude.