Spying the Land: Fearing the "Real World"
Chaya Mushka and Nechama Krimmer
This week’s Parsha, Parshas Shelach, opens with the Jewish people ready to enter Eretz Cannan in order to conquer the land promised to them by Hashem. Prior to their entry, however, Hashem commanded Moshe to send meraglim, spies, into the land. Moshe instructed the spies to scout out and report back on both the terrain and the inhabitants of the land. The spies were "rashai b'nai yisroel," heads of the Jewish people, men of distinction, one leader from each of the twelve tribes [Bamidbar 13:3].
Along with observing the terrain of the land and its people, Moshe also instructed the meraglim to determine the safest and most opportune route for the Jewish people to traverse the land. Moshe sent the spies off with the reminder that Hashem would be with them on this most important expedition.
The spies scouted the land for forty days and then returned to the safety of the encampment in the desert with wild tales of their travels.
Their reports, however, were not the glowing accolades that one would expect coming from the Promised Land. The spies fearfully reported that the descendants of Giants inhabited the land, along with the Amalekites, the sworn enemies of the Jewish people. The spies were convinced that the Jewish people would be decimated by the fortified and powerful nations living in the land.
Yehoshua ben Nun and Calev, leaders of the tribes of Ephraim and Yehudah, respectively, did not share the fear and apprehension of the other spies. Although they recognized that the spies accurately described the inhabitants of the land, Yehoshua and Calev believed the Jewish people could, and would, easily conquer these nations. They had bitachon, trust, that Hashem would protect, guide, and fight alongside them. With Hashem's help, how could they not overcome all obstacles? How could they not succeed?
The Jewish people, however, were frightened by the spies' suggestion that they would enter Eretz Cannan only to be slaughtered by these powerful nations. Together, they cried out, "Why, then, is the Eternal bringing us to this land to fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be left for plunder… Let us appoint a new leader, and return to Egypt" [Bamidbar 14: 3-4].
The desert was a sanctuary for the Jewish people. They were guarded by the Clouds of Glory at all times, which shielded them from the arrows of warring nations as well as protecting them from scorpions, snakes, and dangerous creatures. The Jews were provided daily with manna from heaven, which could taste like any food or dish they desired at the time, and pure water from Miriam's well. The clothes the Jews wore were washed and pressed even as they were wearing them. Food. Shelter. Clothing. Security. All of their needs were miraculously provided for them.
The Jewish people did not want to leave this paradise for a place where they would be forced to dirty their hands with work to provide for their own needs. Moreso, the words of the spies echoed in their minds as they envisioned the blood that might be shed as they fought to establish themselves in the land. They were terrified of leaving the spiritual protection of the desert for the harsh world of physical reality.
Hashem, however, did not create a purely spiritual world where, overwhelmed by His light, created beings would have no independent will. Hashem was not satisfied by the creation of the angels in their holy realms, who solely exist to praise Him and carry out His will.
Hashem desired a physical world, where His presence could be concealed, in order that humans, through their free will, and manifested through their thoughts, speech, and actions, would be able to reveal Him.
On the precipice of their sojourn into the Promised Land, the Jewish people forgot the all-encompassing truth that Hashem's presence, His blessings, and His protection would not end when they left the sanctity of the desert. They forgot what was taught to them on Mount Sinai, that it would be up to them to reveal Hashem's presence, in the midst of their physical hardships, struggles, joys, and triumphs, through the study of Torah and performance of Mitzvos, an eternal truth which penetrated the hearts of Yehoshua ben Nun and Calev.
And because of their bitachon, their trust in Hashem, Yehoshua and Calev were rewarded by being the only two of their generation who merited to enter the Promised Land.
Now, in a period of history where we are currently facing a global pandemic, a marked rise in antisemitism around the world, and tensions in the Promised Land, we must learn from the mistakes of our ancestors that Hashem's presence, although hidden, is always with us.
Let us individually strive to increase the revelation of Hashem here, in our time, in our place, and in our very city, by setting aside time for Torah study, even a few minutes a day, and the daily performance of Mitzvos. And through our increased endeavors, may we merit to see the full revelation of the blessings of Hashem as we usher in the Messianic Era together. The world is waiting.
