Their Intentions Were Good
Sefarim Hakedoshim offer numerous explanations to clarify how the meraglim actually had good intentions. The Sifsei Tzadik quotes the Chidushei Harim zy”a as explaining that the Jewish people were doing very well in the midbar. They were being taught Torah by Moshe Rabenu and they had all the food and clothing they needed. Thus, they were able to focus on serving Hashem with no distractions.
They realized that once they entered Eretz Yisroel, they would no longer be able to live this way. They would have to work the land and there would be many distractions from serving Hashem. Therefore, they decided to create a situation where the nation would have to remain in the desert for an additional 40 years.
However, Hashem did not agree with this reasoning because the best way to serve Him is to live a life of bitachon and to accept that whatever He decides is in our best interest. It was not their job to make their own calculations about what is or isn’t good for the nation.
