After delivering the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, God had to teach them how to live and journey with Him. Centuries of bondage had taken a toll on His chosen people, and He worked patiently to turn their hearts to Him—despite their chronic rebellion and incessant grumbling.

So how could the Israelites possibly question whether God was among them? They knew without a shadow of a doubt—they had seen His presence, heard His voice, and eaten the food He provided. Yet they were still inclined to act as if they had never gotten the memo!

Roy Gane fills in background details that help us understand their wilderness experience and God’s sometimes-puzzling decisions. Not surprisingly, our journey parallels that of the Israelites—and we too must learn those same lessons before we enter the Promised Land.

Roy Gane earned his Ph.D. in Biblical Hebrew Language and Literature at the University of California, Berkeley. He has also studied at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and participated in archaeological excavations in Iraq and Jordan. He has authored a number of articles and a book entitled God's Faulty Heroes.

Currently Dr. Gane is Associate Professor of Hebrew Bible and Ancient Near Eastern Languages in the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary at Andrews University. His wife, Connie, is a Mesopotamian archaeologist and they have a young daughter, Sarah.