In this week’s reading, the spies were sent out to investigate the Land of Israel, to see how to enter and minimize risk. They returned with a bad report: “indeed, it is a land flowing with milk and honey,” they said, even bringing back samples of the oversized fruit it produced. But it was all for nothing, they added, “because the people who dwell in the land are strong, and the cities are extremely great fortresses” [Numbers 13:27-28]. And the Israelites were so distressed that they wanted to appoint a new leader and return to Egypt.
Yehoshua advocated for listening to Moshe, saying that G-d was capable of bringing them into the land. The people were ready to stone him, Moshe, and Aharon, until G-d’s Presence was revealed in the Tabernacle. Moshe begged for forgiveness for the nation, but Hashem decreed that those who had left Egypt but mourned for naught would not merit, themselves, to enter the land. Rather, they would wander forty years before their children would enter.
The people were suitably abashed, but they got up the next morning and declared, “we’re ready to go up!” We’ll go after all, we’re sorry for what we said, we’re ready to accept Hashem’s blessing. Moshe warned them that Hashem would not be with them, that this was a new transgression, and they would be killed. And indeed those who went in were killed.
First the people were told that they could and should go into the land and inherit it, but they refused this blessing, believing the spies when they reported that their goal could not be achieved. And then, simply because they heard a decree of punishment, they changed their attitude entirely, now both believing that they could achieve their goal, and that Hashem would bless them with success, even when Hashem told them clearly that they would not merit to enter, due to their earlier refusal.
What we see is that listening to Hashem is what brings success, not our attempts to overthink, plan, and outdo what we are told. Success comes from listening to our orders, not trying to outsmart G-d Himself!
