But select capable men from all the people
—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—
and appoint them as officials.
Exodus 18:21

At some point, God let his people out of Egypt. Towards the promised Land.
The journey lasted for 40 years.

“You would think that the demonstrations of God’s power in defeating Egypt and the miraculous events of crossing the Red Sea would have convinced the Israelites to trust and worship God—but they didn’t.
Time after time, Israel chooses to oppose, disobey, complain, and grumble against YHWH and his servant, Moses. A climax of sorts is reached when Israel refuses God’s command to enter the Promised Land (Numbers 13-14). Only two men were ready to trust and obey God: Caleb and Joshua.
As a result, God determined that the generation of people over 20 years of age would spend the rest of their lives meandering in the Sinai wilderness.”

It makes sense, right?
Israel, the people of Israel, were slaves. Those who had been led out of Egypt.
Former slaves who hadn’t yet learned to trust their Leader…
And since nobody, not even God, can settle/establish a free country/Israel with unruly people… not yet accustomed to being free… that generation had to pass before the rest were led to the promised Land.

But there’s something more in this story. Something it took us a while to figure out.
During that journey, the former flock had become a team. Those raised in slavery couldn’t do it. Were not able to rise to the challenge.
In modern, anthropological, terms, the people had become a nation.

No longer struggling to survive.
Already trying to achieve a goal!