Tyler’s Torah Thoughts for 24 Sivan, 5783

In reading our portion today, some things stick out to me.

First – aligning with Hashem.  Caleb and Joshua were able to align with what Hashem was doing – they saw Hashem being able to work things out naturally.  They received the data they collected and trusted that Hashem was working this out FOR THEM.  The other spies believed Hashem was testing them – and they weren’t ready for it.  They couldn’t survive in the land. It was too much.

The truth here seems both/and.  Yes – on their own, it would have been daunting for the Israelites to enter the land. With Hashem’s help they would have built confidence in themselves AND in Hashem’s guidance.  But instead? The people trusted their eyes and ears – and didn’t factor into how Hashem may have wanted to use this for their good.

It’s a tough thing, right?  To think that Hashem is always working things out.  That things happen “For us” and not “to us.” Bad things happen to good people.  How is that “for us?”  That is the mystery we may not be able to understand.

And let’s be clear – telling someone – “hey that bad thing that just happened to you? That didn’t happen “to you” it happened “for you.”  That would NOT be compassionate and kind.

And today’s portion addresses that.  Moses ASKS Hashem to remember his kindness.  To not be angry with the people.

I have to wonder – is Moses the ONLY thing that stopped Hashem from being Angry? Or was that happening “for Moses.”  Did Hashem share his anger with Moses for the benefit of Moses? Was it to remind Moses that Hashem IS kind? He IS Compassionate?

I have to believe Hashem knew what was going to happen before it did because Hashem exists outside of time and space as we understand it.  So He knew.  By intervening and sharing His anger with Moses – and having it be recorded in the Torah – that is “for us.”

What can we learn here?  Anger is a valid emotion. How we navigate our anger is important.  Do we repress our anger? Or do we communicate our anger?  Hashem communicates His anger. Why don’t we?

Just my thoughts today.  What about you?

My commentary from a year ago:

Tyler’s Torah Thoughts for 22 Sivan, 5782

Today portion begins with Joshua and Caleb addressing the congregation of Israel after the other spies gave their bad report.

They ended yesterday’s portion telling us that the land was very good. Today, they start with the phrase; “If God desires us, He will bring us to this land and give it to us.”

Rabbi Schneerson had something interesting to say about this:

The spies suffered from binary logic-they believed in God, and in the power of Divine intervention, but they imagined that life is guided either by the laws of nature or by God’s direct mediation. They could not conceive of the scenario where God’s supernatural providence would extend through the veil of nature.

When the people would settle in the land of Israel the miracles which had sustained them until now were going to cease. The manna would no longer fall, and Miriam’s well would no longer produce water, meaning that the people would be forced to seek their sustenance through natural means. Then, the spies argued, they would be helpless. For these miracles had only proven that God could provide assistance by breaking nature; they had no evidence that God’s providence would extend within nature.

They concluded, it is “A land that consumes its inhabitants” (v. 32), as if to say, “When we will be preoccupied with earning a living through natural means, our ability to worship God will be completely consumed!”

Joshua and Caleb responded, “If God desires us, He will bring us to this land” God is not bound by any limitation whatsoever. His providence will extend to us within the confines of nature, God will help us every single day, not with earth-shattering miracles, but with “small miracles” that do not overtly break the natural order. (End quote)

How often do we share this binary thinking that the spies had, and believe it is either/or and not Both/and when it comes to Hashem? God can provide super naturally AND use nature to provide. Caleb and Joshua were right on the money – “if God desires us.”

Caleb and Joshua continue:

Do not rebel against God; then you will not fear the people of the land. God is with us, do not be afraid.

And, at that point the congregation threatens to pelt Caleb and Joshua with stones.

What happens? The cloud comes down. God literally intervenes.

I don’t know about you; if someone said “God is with us and do not be afraid” and my response was to pick up stones to throw and try and kill the persons saying that, and THEN a strange cloud falls upon us? That might make me think twice.

God then shares his frustration with Moses.

Full. Stop.

God shares his heart with Moses. The actual Torah line says this; “God said to Moses, “How long will this people provoke me? How much longer will they refuse to believe in Me after all the miraculous signs I have performed in their midst? I’m going to strike them with a plague and eliminate them and then I’ll make from you a greater and stronger nation than them.”

Wow. First; could you imagine being so close with God that he communicates His frustrations WITH YOU?

And second, he is offering to wipe everyone out and start over.

And Moses seems to have the cooler head here. Because he basically tells God – “that’s a bad idea dude.”

He argues to God that:

The Egyptians are going to hear the Jewish people all died in the desert; what will they think about you?

People are going to hear that God couldn’t protect the Jewish people. The nations are going to say “God lacked the ability to bring this nation to the land which He swore to them.”

Moses also reminds God to be true to Himself; “slow to anger, abundant in loving kindness, forgiving intentional sin and rebellion, absolving those who repent, and not absolving those who do not.”

God then confirms; ”I have forgiven them because of your words.” However, there are still consequences. The people will not get to see the land that God swore to their fathers. All those who provoked God will not see it.”

Let’s stop here again, before we close.

God is clear. He forgives them. But. That doesn’t mean there aren’t consequences for their actions.

For us; how do we see and teach about forgiveness? Do we recognize that we can forgive each other AND still hold people accountable for their actions? I feel like one way people are supposed to forgive us to stop the consequences of a behavior. “I forgive you, so you won’t be held accountable.” That is not the way of Hashem. We can forgive AND still hold people accountable.

What do you think?

Some interesting thoughts again from Rabbi Schneerson:

Man cannot be expected to suddenly leave a mentality of slavery, from working with bricks and straw, and at the spur of the moment, wage war with giants. It was therefore part of the Divine plan to make the Jewish people wander in the desert until they had developed a good degree of courage, for that is the inevitable effect of a difficult, nomadic existence. Also, a new generation of people would now be born who had not known any slavery (Maimonides, 12” century).

God does not issue a punishment to take revenge on the sinner. Rather, the “punishment is a form of spiritual “medicine” aimed at correcting the spiritual deficiency caused by a sin.

With this in mind, the “punishment” given to the Jewish people here is difficult to understand. Their sin was their unwillingness to enter the land, because they desired to remain in the desert where they could serve God without distraction- and yet, their punishment was to receive what they wanted: to remain in the desert (for forty years)! How would this “correct” their sin of not wanting to enter the land?

The sin of the spies was not that they were too spiritual, but that they were not spiritual enough. To be involved with the physical world and remain spiritually attuned demands the highest degree of attachment to God. So when the generation showed that they were lacking this level of dedication, they were given forty more years of unrestricted Divine worship, enabling them to reach the level where they would be ready to engage in the world. (End quote)

I’m reflecting on the mentality here – of a “mentality of slavery.” What things in our lives are we looking for freedom from, that have us trapped because of our mentality?

Ok. Jumping back into the Torah:

God then closes this portion singling out Caleb – and saying he will get to go into the land. And caleb’s descendants will be the one to drive the inhabitants out.

God tells Moses if they try to go into the land now, they will all die. So He tells them it’s time to turn around into the desert.

What do you think about today’s portion?