God will scatter those who have made a covenant with Him. The people wanted to make the covenant with God, but when the reality hit of what this was going to cost them in the conduct of their lives, they no longer wanted it unless it was on their terms. When food got scarce and water was in short supply, they wanted to back out and accused their leaders and God. Their descendants in the land of the promise were unwilling to make the sacrifices necessary to make the marriage successful. God first scattered Israel, and then when Judah did not learn from Israel's experiences, God divorced them both as one nation that had made a covenant with Him. Those in a covenant with God are going to have to desire unity in the same way that God does. The hardships of the pilgrimage in the wilderness were a consequence of a choice that they made to enter into the agreement with God. The consequences of choices are all too frequently things that people do not want to think about. In regard to sin, people either ignore the consequences and take their chances or go into denial that the consequences are a reality that must be dealt with. Being free imposes choices and sacrifices that only the faithful are willing to make. In the end the Israelites were comfortable with slavery and died in the wilderness separated from the God who freed them. The church is receiving a very stern warning. God is not done with Israel yet, but He did scatter them, and that scattering is a warning. The reality is that the church was scattered, and people of every spiritual level are scattered through all the groups. The whole church is sick sin sick. The most important breach is the one between people and God. It is the loss of faith aided and abetted by a loss of devotion.