Podcast: Play in new window | Download (7.0MB)
Our parasha begins in Chapter 13 where Adonai instructs Moses to send out men to explore the land of Canaan, which He was giving to the sons of Israel.
A leader from each tribe was sent to explore the land with instructions from Moses to see if the land was good or bad, fertile or lean. I noticed how each explorer and their father are meticulously named, which clues us into the authenticity of the text.
The explorers travelled as far as a place called the Valley of the Grapes. They cut down a cluster of grapes and gathered pomegranates and figs there. After 40 days of exploring they returned, showing Moses and Aaron and the entire community the fruit of the land.
They told everyone that the land indeed flowed with milk and honey, but that the people that dwelled there were too strong and the cities too well fortified to enter. This was when these 10 spies made their error. Instead of focusing on Adonai, the same God who not long before this parted the Red Sea, allowing them to safely cross on dry ground and escape the Egyptian army, they were looking at their own abilities and coming up short. Caleb, full of faith in Adonai, spoke up to silence the people saying “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.” But the men who had gone with him didn’t agree and caused the people to be fearful.
In chapter 14, The people complained and wept throughout the night calling for new leadership and wanting to return to Egypt. Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before the entire community of Israel while Joshua and Caleb tore their garment in mourning and tried to encourage the people telling them that the land was good and that they needed to leave it in God’s hand for them to take it. But the people were filled with fear and wouldn’t listen.
In response, Adonai curses that entire generation and tells them that they will wander through the desert for the next 40 years, a year for each day they were spying in the land. In verse 31 Adonai declares: “You were afraid and complained that your enemies in that new land would take your children away from you. But I tell you that I will bring them into the land. They will enjoy what you refused to accept. As for you people, you will die in this desert.”
Moses acting as their intercessor pleaded for Adonai to forgive Israel and He does. But there are still consequences that result from this and Adonai reminds them that no one from that generation, except for Joshua and Caleb will enter that land.
The focus shifts in chapter 15 and Adonai tells Moses to instruct the people that when they do enter the land, they are to give offerings to God and are to remember, throughout all generations, that strangers who enter their land shall be equal with them before God. There is one standard for everyone.
The parasha concludes with Adonai giving Israel a way to remember His commands. God said to Moses, “Tell the Israelis to make fringes on the corners of their garments with a cord of sky-blue. Each thread shall remind you of the commandments of the Lord. They shall remind you to remain holy to your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God.”
While preparing this parasha, I learned a term called “grasshopper mentality”. It’s a state of mind characterized by feelings of inferiority, self-doubt, and powerlessness. Individuals with this mindset perceive obstacles and adversaries as insurmountable “giants,” while viewing themselves as too small, insignificant, or ill-equipped to succeed, which often will lead to inaction or even failure.
A person who is stuck in this grasshopper mentality will consistently underestimate their own value, intelligence, or capability. They will tend to focus entirely on the difficulty of a challenge while failing to see available resources or potential solutions.
The outlook of the ten spies was not very bright or hopeful. Their report was one of gloom. They could only see the problems instead of the possibilities, the giants instead of God and defeat instead of victory. Their attitude could certainly be described as negative.
On the other hand, Caleb and Joshua, were very optimistic. Their report was one of hope. They saw possibilities instead of problems, God instead of giants, and victory instead of defeat.
In chapter, 14 God said Caleb “had a different spirit.” Yes, it was different from the ten spies because it was positive instead of negative. We should remember that the REASON he was hopeful and positive wasn’t because he thought he was a part of a group who were warriors and assassins. He was confident because he knew the God that was sending him into this land.
Today, in the world and in the church, we still have these two groups of people. Some can see the good in people, opportunities to spread the gospel and the disposition that says, “we are able.” And there are others who can only see the bad in people, the flaw in any idea and say, “we are not able.”
We need to study and emulate the disposition and faith of Joshua and Caleb. These two men had a different focus on life and a different attitude toward God and his work. What were some of the attributes of their attitudes?
First, they had faith. They said, “We are well able to overcome” They believed in the awesome and mighty power of God to bring them through it.
They were confident. Concerning the Canaanites, Joshua said, “The people are bread for us: their defense is departed from them, and the Lord is with us”. They had the confidence in the outcome of this undertaking, because they knew that they were doing the will of God.
They displayed courage. Joshua said, “fear them not.” He was not afraid of the giants, the walled cities or the strength of the people. Fear is not of the Lord.
Today, as we face the giant problems of sin, suffering or sickness in our personal lives, we need the positive traits of faith, confidence, and courage, coupled with action and an appreciation of God’s blessings to lead us on to victory.
Numbers 3:32 tells us that there were 603,550 men of war. Of that number only two, Caleb and Joshua, entered Canaan. 603,548 souls fell in the wilderness.
In Matthew, chapter 7, Jesus said only a few will enter and walk the straight and narrow way leading to life, while many will walk the broad way leading to destruction.
Will you and I decide to develop the disposition like God’s two heroes of old? Or will we be like those fearful spies who brought back the negative report? May we all follow the example given by Joshua and Caleb, focusing on Adonai as opposed to the giants in our lives.
Shabbat Shalom.