And God pardoned the people as Moses requested. But, and this is a huge but, God said not one of them would ever enter the Promised Land because they refused to listen to His voice and obey. They had witnessed firsthand the greatness of God but still allowed their fear to override their faith. God said He wouldn’t even allow them to see the land! The generation that left Egypt on dry land through the Red Sea would not even see the Promised Land! (The only ones to make it were Joshua and Caleb.)
God punished His people because they refused to obey Him and move into their promise. He told them they would experience what they kept saying: they would die in the wilderness.
Because you complained against Me, every one of you who is twenty years old or older and was included in the registration will die. You will not enter and occupy the land I swore to give you. The only exceptions will be Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun. (Numbers 14:29-30 NLT)
The Manna Chef 