Les,
that decision would have been rebellion. Read Numbers 14 and see how God handled the rebellious people. The Isrealites were told to go in and possess the land. God promised to drive their enemies from before them. This includes wars that it took to clear the land. God's concern was that His people would play the harlot to the gods of the people in the land. Those who chose the appeasement routte did eventually fall into worshipping false gods and they were punsihed for it.