"The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Command the people of Israel and say to them, ‘My offering, my food for my food offerings, my pleasing aroma, you shall be careful to offer to me at its appointed time."
Numbers 28:1-2
One can easily see, looking back, how this was in fact what brought failure and loss to the first generation of Israel. Their long history of murmuring, their hankering after the old ways, their secret desires for the fleshpots of Egypt, all this spelt a wrong relationship with God. They were not right with Him; and Kadesh was simply the summing up of their continual spiritual sickness, the inevitable culmination and fruit of past disobedience and rebellion. They had failed to discern the heart and essence of all God had said to them in the earlier enactments, namely, that He wanted a people for Himself, to walk in fellowship with Him. This is the purpose of creation. God has not willed to be alone in His universe: He seeks the fellowship of the creatures He has made. Indeed, He has made us in such a way that only in fellowship with Him do we find ourselves and attain our true destiny, as human beings. And, having failed with one generation, He begins again. Oh, the patience of God! What lessons there are here, if we were to choose to linger at this point! And the lesson for us is the same as it was for Israel; everything true, hopeful and fruitful in Christian life begins with a true spirit of worship indicating a right relationship with God.