Because those who had been sent to scout the land spread discouraging reports among the people, the Lord’s anger was kindled against them. It appears the Lord was finally having enough of the Israelites. There was nothing that the Israelites were doing right. From complaints to disgruntles, the community displayed open thanklessness to the Lord (cf. Responsorial Psalm). In today’s passage, the community is at the verge of incurring God’s wrath because of pushing God aside in their deliberations. At the behest of God, Moses had sent some men to go and scout the land of Canaan, the land flowing with milk and honey that the Lord had promised them. Although the men did as they were told, they decided to alter the facts of their find on account that those who occupied Canaan appeared stronger than they were. It was an act that displeased the Lord. The inhabitants of Canaan might have seemed to the scouts as more than prepared to defend their land from any invading tribe. However, the Israelites should have become aware by now that they never fight their battles by themselves. Somebody has always been fighting on their behalf. Had it been by their own merit, the community would have perished long ago. By looking at their number and relying solely on their own strength and power, the Israelites were sinning against the first of the Ten Commandments. God had promised to be their God and to fight their battles for them. The first commandment demanded complete and exclusive trust in the Lord (I am a jealous God) by keeping in mind how the Lord had journeyed with them and won their battles (I am the Lord your God who brought you out of Egypt). The fact that they chose to lie rather than run to the Lord with their dilemma implied that they didn’t think there was anybody who could help them out (cf. Responsorial Psalm: they waited not for his counsel). The Lord God was certainly not on their minds. It was a sin against the Lord.