The Israelites failed to enter the Promised Land initially because of unbelief.
At Kadesh Barnea, God had promised to drive out the Canaanites and give the land to Israel without their having to fight. But the people did not believe God's word; they asked for spies, and when the spies' report stirred fear, they concluded they could not take the land. Because they would not believe, God swore that they should not enter into His rest, and that generation died in the wilderness.
Hebrews 3:19 — This verse directly states why Israel could not enter the Promised Land: unbelief.
Numbers 14:11 — God's question to Moses exposes the people's unbelief despite all the signs He had shown them.
Deuteronomy 1:26 — Moses recounts that Israel would not go up but rebelled against God's commandment.
At Kadesh Barnea, the nation of Israel stood before the land that God had promised to give them. God had promised that He would drive out the Canaanites and deliver the inhabitants into their hand, so that Israel could enter and possess the land without labor (Exodus 23:31). But the people did not believe what God said. In unbelief, they asked Moses to send spies, a step God had never instructed. When the spies returned, the people concluded they could not take the land, saying the cities were walled and they were like grasshoppers. Because they refused to believe God's promise, God swore that they should not enter into His rest; their carcasses fell in the wilderness (Numbers 14; Hebrews 3:18-19).
Les Feldick consistently teaches that Israel's failure at Kadesh Barnea was rooted in unbelief. He emphasizes that God had everything prepared: He had promised to drive out the Canaanites, even using hornets, so that Israel could walk in and take the land without any effort. But the people could not believe what God said. Their first step of unbelief was asking Moses to send spies, a step God never instructed. When the spies returned with a fearful report, Israel concluded they were like grasshoppers and could not take the land. As a result, they turned back into the wilderness, and that generation's carcasses fell there. Les points out that because of unbelief they could not enter God's rest, and he applies this as a warning about the necessity of taking God at His word.
Les Feldick teaches that the request for spies was the first step of unbelief. God had never instructed Moses to send twelve spies; the idea came from the people themselves. They wanted to know what they would face before they would go in. God condescended to their request, but the whole episode revealed their lack of faith in His promise.
According to Les Feldick, because of their unbelief Israel lost the opportunity to enter the Promised Land. Instead of going up and possessing the land at Kadesh, they turned around and went back into the wilderness, where that generation's carcasses fell. Les notes that they could have gone in without losing a single young son or lifting a sword, but their unbelief meant they would later have to fight for the land under Joshua.
Les Feldick explains that the Promised Land was pictured as God's rest. Israel could have entered and simply enjoyed everything already prepared—vineyards, orchards, houses—without having to labor or fight. But because they did not believe, they could not enter that rest. The writer of Hebrews applies this to Israel's history, saying they could not enter in because of unbelief.
God's Promised Inheritance
Les describes the boundaries of the land God promised to Israel and His pledge to deliver the inhabitants into their hand, setting up the background for why unbelief was so tragic.
First Step of Unbelief: Spies
Les teaches that God had promised to drive out the Canaanites, but Israel's unbelief led them to request spies—something God never instructed.
Rejection at Kadesh Barnea
Les explains that Israel rejected the land of promise at Kadesh Barnea, saying they were like grasshoppers and the cities were walled.
Unbelief Kept Them Out
Les quotes Hebrews 3 to show that God swore they would not enter His rest because they believed not; unbelief was the cause.
Turned Back to the Wilderness
Les notes that Israel, in unbelief, turned around and went back into the wilderness instead of entering the land.
The Land Was Prepared
Les explains that Israel could have entered the prepared land of milk and honey without labor; the spies' report revealed their unbelief.
Consequences of Unbelief
Les teaches that because of unbelief, Israel did not have the easy entry they could have had; later they had to fight for the land.
God's Controversy: Unbelief
Les underscores that God's constant controversy with Israel was their refusal to believe Him; they did not enter because of unbelief.
Exodus 23:31: And I will set thy bounds from the Red sea even unto the sea of the Philistines, and from the desert unto the river: for I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hand; and thou shalt drive them out before thee.
God's promise that the land and its inhabitants would be delivered into Israel's hands.
Deuteronomy 1:26: Notwithstanding ye would not go up, but rebelled against the commandment of the LORD your God:
Moses recounts Israel's rebellion at Kadesh Barnea.
Numbers 14:11: And the LORD said unto Moses, How long will this people provoke me? and how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have shewed among them?
God's response to Israel's unbelief in the wilderness.
Hebrews 3:18: And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?
The writer of Hebrews identifies unbelief as the reason for their exclusion.
Hebrews 3:19: So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.
The clearest summary of why Israel failed to enter the Promised Land.
The main reason was unbelief. Although God had promised to drive out the Canaanites, the people did not believe His word and feared they could not take the land. Hebrews 3:19 sums it up: they could not enter in because of unbelief.
No. Les Feldick teaches that the request for twelve spies came from the people, not from God. It was the first step of their unbelief. God condescended to their request, but it was never His instruction.
Because of unbelief, that generation turned back into the wilderness and their carcasses fell there. They were not permitted to enter God's rest; only their children eventually entered under Joshua.
Watch the Teaching: Why Israel Failed to Enter the Promised Land (Exodus 23 & Deut 1)