Remnant

I studied the Exodus from Egypt and I was left with the question: why did the children of Israel stay in the wilderness for forty years and not 4 days? I came up with the hypothesis that maybe everyone was not supposed to take the journey into the promised land. After seeing Water Turned into blood, plagues of frogs, plagues of lice, swarms of flies, animals die, boils, plagues of hail, locusts, three days of darkness,the firstborn die and the Red Sea parted; Israel still could not let go of idolatry. In Exodus Chapter 32 Moses was on Mount Sinai receiving instruction from the Lord but had to come down because the people began to make idols. It was as if there was something in them that missed Egypt. Manna rained down from heaven, water flowed from a rock and still the Israelites turned to other gods. Was there only suppose to be a remnant to make it to the promise? God told Gideon that there was too many with him.
Judges Chapter 7:4 And the Lord Said unto Gideon, The people are yet too many; bring them down unto the water, and I will try them for thee there: and it shall be, that of whom I say unto thee, This shall go with thee, the same shall go with thee; and of whomsoever I say unto thee, This shall not go with thee, the same shall not go.
Gideon ended up with 300 men; and three hundred was all it took to be victorious when he had the favor of God with him. God wanted the glory. Sometimes we surround ourselves with people who have influence with us but the influence isn’t always Godly. We must be careful. We may even need to let God choose our company.
Leviticus 15:31'Thus you shall separate the children of Israel from their uncleanness, lest they die in their uncleanness when they defile My tabernacle that is among them.
Number 16:19 And Korah gathered all the congregation against them unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the congregation. 20 And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying , 21 Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment. 22 And they fell upon their faces, and said , O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin , and wilt thou be wroth with all the congregation? 23 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying , 24 Speak unto the congregation, saying , Get you up from about the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. 25 And Moses rose up and went unto Dathan and Abiram; and the elders of Israel followed him. 26 And he spake unto the congregation, saying , Depart , I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest ye be consumed in all their sins.
Judges Chapter 7
5 So he brought down the people unto the water: and the LORD said unto Gideon, Every one that lappeth of the water with his tongue, as a dog lappeth , him shalt thou set by himself; likewise every one that boweth down upon his knees to drink . So Gideon took the men down to the water. There the LORD told him, "Separate those who lap the water with their tongues like a dog from those who kneel down to drink."