|
In this week's Torah portion, Parashat Shelach Lecha, we find the infamous story of the spies who were sent ahead to scout and survey the land of Israel. However, taking a step back, we might ask the question, whose idea was this plan in the first place? The text of the Torah tells us that God said to Moses, "Shelach lecha anasheem." These Hebrew words can be translated simply as, "Send forth men." Understanding these words as such would make it seem like this was God's idea or even commandment. However, if we look at the Hebrew more closely, we notice the word "lecha," which can be translated as "for yourself." Understood this way the phrase means, "Send for YOURSELF men." In other words, God may be saying, "I don't necessarily think this is a great idea, but, if you are intent on it, then you may, for your own sake, but not based on my command, send forth these men."
This understanding, that it was not truly the desire of God to send men to spy the land of Israel, is supported by a later passage of the Torah, from the Book of Deuteronomy, where this story is again referenced. There, in chapter 1, verses 21-22, it is stated, 'See, the ETERNAL your God has placed the land at your disposal. Go up, take possession, as the ETERNAL, the God of your fathers, promised you. Fear not and be not dismayed. Then all of you came to me and said, “Let us send agents ahead to reconnoiter the land for us and bring back word on the route we shall follow and the cities we shall come to.”
Here we see that it was the people who approached Moses with this suggestion and it did not truly come from God. This helps to explain and clarify the entire story. Because we learn from the rabbis that, at this point in our journey, the people truly were on the threshold of being able to settle in the land of Israel. Their journey could soon have been over after only a couple of years. And, apparently, it may have been the intention of God that the same generation who had been enslaved in Egypt would indeed have had the opportunity to enter the promised land.
However, tragically, this generation showed themselves not to be ready. They undermined themselves by being deeply fearful and by lacking in faith in God. Even the spies themselves, who were esteemed leaders chosen by Moshe because of their greatness, proved themselves to be unworthy. All besides Joshua and Caleb could not see the promise and the opportunity. They could only focus on the fear and the challenges. Remember, all of them were literally seeing exactly the same thing. It was only the perspective that was different. But the people as a whole sided with the majority report, ignored the words of Joshua and Caleb, and became paralyzed by fear. Because of this mind frame - only because of this negative perspective and lack of faith - the people were deemed unworthy by God. And so, 40 years would have to pass. This entire generation of those who had been enslaved would not have the opportunity to enter the land. Our people would need to wait decades for the new generation, those who would possess the faith and determination to eventually settle in their new homeland, the sacred Land of Israel.
Shabbat Shalom!
Cantor Zachary Konigsberg
cantorzkonigsberg@gmail.com
917-696-0749
| 
