Spies, Spies, Everywhere

Shlach Lecha; Numbers 14:8 - 15:7

IN the words of a great e-mail I received this past year: you don't have to know much or be wealthy. Just being there is enough to count, and when was the last time someone told you "I want you for your body" ?

Our Torah reading this shabbat comes from the book of Numbers 14:8 - 15:7. [book of Numbers? Sounds like FBI evidence in a mafia trial]

The context is the reconnaissance mission of the twelve tribal leaders into the promised land, ten of whom return saying "they're big-uns; we're done for!" (free translation, obviously). Only Joshua and Caleb say that the Israelites should go into the land they were promised; for this loyalty, they are rewarded by being the only two people of that entire generation, to live long enough to see the Israelites enter the land. (everybody else dies, including Moses and
Aaron!)

So, like willful children, when God subsequently forbids them to go into the land, they disobey and try to go in there. Unlike this past week's reading, which emphasized the people's obedience to the fiery cloud, this week we see how our ancestors DISobeyed God.

Interestingly enough, God uses a line of reasoning with Moses that every parent can recognize. "Look, they're disobeying me, and I know that YOU (Moses) are frustrated, so let me get rid of them. Kaput. Dead.

"They can be replaced by an entire race of people who are just like you. Just say the word." But Moses refuses to let God destroy his "kids."

What a role model, especially on this Father's Day weekend: someone who has every right to give them a big fat whoopin', but who chooses instead to tough it out, because the long term goal of building an independent and self-sufficient system of governance outweighs the
missteps they take trying to arrive there.

I now see that, as a parent, the "nuclear option" is hardly ever justified. Not because it won't work, but because it leaves a message in its wake saying "by any means necessary. " That sort of idea is simply one that I cannot in good conscience promote.

Shabbat Shalom
See you in shul this Shabbat!

Rabbi David Bockma

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