The story of the spies is revisited in Parshat D’varim, revealing something we might not have known about Moshe.
Back in Parshat Shlaḥ Lekha, the people of Israel had decided that they could not conquer the land because of the existence of the giants. They are quoted in our parsha as saying “Because of HaShem’s hatred for us did He take us out of the land of Egypt to deliver us to the hands of the Amorite to destroy us” (D’varim 1:27).
Moshe replies in such a way that’s fundamentally different from the response of Kalev, who had said, “Let us rise up and we will take possession of it, for we can certainly do it!” (Bamidbar 13:30).
Moshe’s reply was, “Then I said to you, ‘Do not be broken and do not fear them. HaShem, your G-d, who goes before you – He shall make war for you, like everything He did for you in Egypt, before your eyes” (D’varim 1:29-30).
Moshe attempts to calm the people by telling them that just as miracles took place in Egypt and in the desert, so too would there be miracles in Eretz Yisrael. The nation shouldn’t fear because the war would be an easy supernatural victory.
Moshe’s behavior might seem a bit strange at first glance. After all, a crucial component of our entry into Eretz Yisrael was that we would leave our supernatural desert existence behind and begin to live according to the laws of nature. The sanctity of the nation, and the sanctity of the Sh’khina that rests within the nation, are revealed morte through a natural national life than by miracles.
Our sages teach that we should not depend on miracles (P’saḥim 64b). Open miracles are not ideal. If there is no alternative, because a person is too weak to deal with the challenges confronting him, then the Kadosh Barukh Hu might perform a miracle. But this is not as desirable as successful human initiative.
Moshe’s reaction makes more sense once we appreciate that he likely saw that the nation as too weak to conquer the land. But a legitimate question for Moshe might be why he didn’t encourage the people, as Kalev had, to find it within themselves to wage war?
Here in Parshat D’varim, Moshe describes a very strong Divine reaction.
“HaSherm heard your words, and He became angry and swore, saying, ‘If even a man of these people, this evil generation, shall see the good land that I swore to give to your ancestors. Except for Kalev Ben Yefune; He shall see it, and to him shall I give the land on which he walked, and to his children, because he wholeheartedly followed HaShem.” (D’varim 1:34-36)
This is followed by a very harsh verse.
“With me also HaShem became angry because of you, saying, ‘You too shall not come there’.” (1:37)
We are generally taught to understand the reason for Moshe not being permitted to enter the land as resulting from the transgression of striking the rock. But here we see an entirely different reason – a lack of belief in the power of the nation to fight a war without depending on miracles.
We learn from this that in order to stand strong for Eretz Yisrael, without any weakening of our hold on the land, we must not depend on miracles.
Rather, we must know that HaShem is with us as we follow a natural path, and that He will support us in all of our natural wars.
Translation by Dr. Moshe Goldberg
