Dave try speaking only for yourself from your own heart about things you know or believe rather than from the opinions of men and/or those of the majority of people bearing the label of Christian today.
You say that OT Israel consisted of mostly unbelievers, but why would that be different among those bearing the label Christian today? Ultimately God judges people based upon what they, each one of them, have done with what He, God, has provided. The Way to Life has always [OT and NT] been narrow. Only two adults made from Egypt to the Promised Land although a great many made through the wide gate out of Egypt following the steps of Moses. This is the type or shadow of the strait and narrow versus the broad that Jesus describes here:
"Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." Matt 7:13-14
Then see the situation as it was for Moses and for Jesus. Following Moses all of the Israelites gladly ate the manna falling from heaven 6 mornings per week. But from the 600,000 men only Caleb and Joshua were faithful to the end.
Do we not see the connection or similarly between that and what Jesus said here?
"Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.
Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed." John 6:26-27
Consider all of the thousands God fed among those followers of Moses and all of the thousands God fed among those followers of Jesus.
Yes, they followed but only a two made it to the end in the OT wilderness and only a few made it to the end in the NT wilderness.
Following the crowd will NOT lead us into the Promised Land of God. We will die in the wilderness. You speak as if following the Bible theologians, even the good ones, would assure us of following Jesus to the end of the road... to the Light... to the Promised Land.
Even Paul, as greatly used as he was by God, recognized his own limitations and warned us about it:
"Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ." I Cor 11:1
In other words, follow our leaders given to us by God as they follow Christ. If any on them miss, even Paul the apostle, don't follow them into a ditch. This means don't presume that even the sincere leaders are faultless... Paul speaks again of this here:
"Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." Phil 2:12
No man who is not already an overcomer as Jesus was an overcomer will always lead you exactly right to God. Each of us must work things out for himself make his own decisions. We can listen to others and be advised by others, but when we make our final decision it needs to be ours.
