Friday, June 24, 2022

 Shabbat Shalom - Parasha Shelach Lecha (Send Forth) - Courage to Take Your Promise !!!


Previously posted ...
Shabbat Shalom - Parasha Behaalotecha - Menorah Purity - Complaining Impurity !!!
https://conpats.blogspot.com/2022/06/chuck-kolb_18.html
Resting in Jesus He is our LIGHT
https://conpats.blogspot.com/2022/06/sermon-resting-in-jesus-he-is-our-light.html


These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world
ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. John 16:33
Blessed are those servants whom the master finds on watch when he returns. Luke 12:37
And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. Eph 5:11
The war against Truth has been raging ever since
evil was expulsed from the realm of Heaven.  
God instructed Pharaoh, "Let my people go."
God instructs us, "Let my people know."
Shema Y'israel - Maranatha !
Na'aseh V'nishma  

✡ ✡ ✡
כבוד שם יהוה Baruch Hashem Adonai  

#ShabbatShalom - Welcome to Shelach Lecha (Send Forth), this week’s Torah portion.
This is the portion of Scripture that will be read in the diaspora synagogues around the world
this Saturday (Shabbat) morning. We are certain you will be blessed as you read along with us!

Last week in Parasha Behaalotecha, God commanded Aaron to light the lamps of the Menorah, and the tribe of Levi was initiated into the service of the Sanctuary. This week’s Parasha (Scripture portion) describes how God tests the Israelites by sending out 12 meraglim (spies) to check out the situation in the Promised Land (as God had commanded them) before going in to take possession of it. God instructed Moses to send one chieftain from each of the 12 tribes of Israel to scout out the land of Canaan.

You can view this Parasha on our website complete with embedded links ...
Shelach Lecha (Send Forth): The Courage to Take Your Promise

https://free.messianicbible.com/parasha/shelach-lecha-send-forth-the-courage-to-take-your-promise-5782/
 
Are You a Jew? The Answer Might Surprise You
https://free.messianicbible.com/feature/are-you-a-jew-fname-the-answer-might-surprise-you/

Brit Milah: The Covenant of Circumcision
https://free.messianicbible.com/feature/brit-milah-the-covenant-of-circumcision/

Do You Know What the Message of the Mezuzah Is?
https://free.messianicbible.com/feature/know-message-mezuzah/

The Significance of the Jewish Prayer Shawl
https://free.messianicbible.com/feature/the-significance-of-the-jewish-prayer-shawl/
Ancient Jewish Wedding Customs and Yeshua’s Second Coming
https://free.messianicbible.com/feature/ancient-jewish-wedding-customs-and-yeshuas-second-coming/

Revelation and Na'aseh V'nishma
https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/11880
https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/do-first-understand-later/
We will do and we will listen to all that God has declared. Exodus 24:7


When to Celebrate Yeshua HaMashiach's birthday ...
The Joy of Tabernacles when Jesus was Born
http://conpats.blogspot.com/2019/10/chuck-kolb-10142019.html
How Yeshua was born on the Feast of Tabernacles by Rabbi Yitzchak
http://www.calledoutbelievers.org/how-yeshua-was-born-on-the-feast-of-tabernacles/

English to Hebrew to English lookup

https://context.reverso.net/translation/hebrew-english/
https://www.doitinhebrew.com/Translate/default.aspx
https://english-hebrew-dictionary.com/
https://alittlehebrew.com/transliterate/  
https://yiddishkeit101.wordpress.com/category/hebrew-word-of-the-day
The Best Jewish Words You Need To Know: A Yiddish and Hebrew Glossary
https://www.joyofkosher.com/from-jamie/the-best-jewish-words-you-need-to-know/
https://www.brighthubeducation.com/studying-a-language/58611-yiddish-expressions-for-the-holidays/
https://hebrew4christians.com/Glossary/Hebrew_Glossary_-_Sh/hebrew_glossary_-_sh.html
A Living Library of Jewish Texts in Hebrew and English translation
https://www.sefaria.org/   https://dictionary.co.il/   https://www.hebrew-verbs.co.il/
https://www.mechon-mamre.org/
 
Torah Teasers Parshat Shlach by Moshe Erlbaum
https://www.aish.com/tp/i/teasers/Torah-Teasers-Parshat-Shlach.html

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Todah Rabah - beloved Rabbi Ralph Messer ...
Simchat Torah Beit Midrash - Joy of God’s Teaching and Instruction

What Does It Mean to Choose Life? Every decision you make can be made in a way that you are “choosing life.”
The Torah is God’s constitution; it is His teaching and instruction; it is eternal and it is life.
His Spirit is pure Light, abundant with untouchable, supreme, sovereign power.
God is the Source of all life.

שְׁלַח-לְך Shelach  means “send forth.”
God allowed Moses to send twelve spies to gather intelligence about the land of Canaan. They saw the inhabitants as giants, and themselves as grasshoppers. The spies’ false, negative report tore down the confidence of the rest of the Children of Israel, and they all wept that night. Even though God had promised to give them the Land of Israel, they no longer believed that He was powerful enough to do so. Because of their rebellion and disbelief, God decreed that they would wander the desert for 40 years—one year for every day of the spies’ expedition. Joshua and Caleb were the only two of the spies who brought back a positive report, and were the only ones of their generation to enter the Promised Land. Giants and Grasshoppers - What does this Torah portion teach us about the type of mentality we should have when faced with challenges?
https://stbm.org/shelach/

Arrive a half hour+ early for starting lessons ...

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Learn more about special event streaming when you call our team! 866-867-2488
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Todah Rabah - Dr. Gary Hedrick ...
Reaching the Jewish people with the Gospel
https://www.cjfm.org/about-us/who-we-are/history/
Charles Halff - What It Costs a Jew to Become a Christian

https://store.cjfm.org/product/146/what-it-costs-a-jew-to-become-a-christian

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Todah Rabah - beloved Rabbi Chaim Richman ...

Weekly Torah Study: with Rav Gedalia Meyer
Temple Talk with Yitzchak Reuven and Rabbi Abba Horovitz
https://www.youtube.com/c/TheTempleInstitute/videos
https://www.facebook.com/The-Temple-Institute-22738684968/
https://www.instagram.com/thetempleinstitute/ - https://twitter.com/TempleInstitute
https://www.templeinstitute.org/ Weekly Newsletter - 35 years  
Red Heifer > https://templeinstitute.org/red-heifer/
Jerusalem Lights - Rabbi Chaim Richman
https://www.youtube.com/c/JerusalemLightsRabbiChaimRichman/videos

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Todah Rabah - beloved Rabbi Chaim Jachter ...

Kol Torah Academy of Bergen County  
Parashat Shlach - 25 Sivan, 5782 - June 24, 2022

https://www.koltorah.org/articles/?category=Shlach
https://www.koltorah.org/by-parashah  https://www.koltorah.org/about-us
https://www.koltorah.org/rav-jachters-halachah-files
Books > https://www.koltorah.org/books
From Chaos to Kingship: An In-Depth Exploration of Megillat Rut
https://www.amazon.com/Chaos-Kingship-Depth-Exploration-Megillat/dp/B0B14ZP8N2
Yeshiva > https://www.tabc.org/  https://www.instagram.com/koltorah.tabc/
 
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Parshat Shelach

https://www.chabad.org/parshah/article_cdo/aid/2201/jewish/Shelach-in-a-Nutshell.htm
http://www.chabad.org/parshah/default.asp?tDate=6/25/2022  
https://www.chabad.org/calendar/view/month_cdo/jewish/Jewish-Calendar.htm
https://www.chabad.org/calendar/converter_cdo/aid/6225/jewish/Jewish-Hebrew-Date-Converter.htm

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Todah Rabah - beloved Rabbi Naphtali “Tuly” Weisz ...   
https://israel365.com/  https://www.israel365news.com/
https://www.israel365.com/about/  https://theisraelbible.com/
https://theisraelbible.com/bible/torah/  https://theisraelbible.com/blog/

The Portion of Shelach
https://theisraelbible.com/portion-shelach/
https://theisraelbible.com/book-numbers/

Where are We in the Messianic Process?
https://theisraelbible.com/where-are-we-in-the-messianic-process/

“Bennett Government’s collapse was divine intervention”, Knesset spiritual leader charges
https://www.israel365news.com/270571/bennett-governments-collapse-was-divine-intervention-knesset-spiritual-leader-charges/

The 39 Acts Forbidden on the Sabbath
https://theisraelbible.com/the-39-acts-forbidden-on-the-sabbath/
https://theisraelbible.com/the-true-day-of-rest/

Anti-Semitism is on the rise in the United States.

Stand with 100,000+ people who stand with Israel.
https://www.israel365.com/the-israel-covenant/

ACLJ Petition - Jay Sekulow
Stop Biden IRS From Spying on You and Your Bank Account
https://aclj.org/government-corruption/stop-biden-irs-from-spying-on-your-bank-account

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DONALD DATES
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Trump
Tiffany 10/13/93
  Ivanka 10/30/81

Save America Rally in Mendon, IL
Sat, June 25, 2022 - 7:00 pm (CDT)

https://events.donaldjtrump.com/events/save-america-rally-in-mendon-il
Events > https://www.donaldjtrump.com/events
https://rumble.com/c/RSBN

President Trumps Full Speech At Faith And Freedom Coalition In Nashville, TN 6/17/22

vid> https://rumble.com/v18toj9-replay-president-trumps-full-speech-at-faith-and-freedom-coalition-in-nashv.html (1:40:26)
https://t.me/rsbnetwork  https://rsbnetwork.com/  https://rumble.com/c/RSBN  RSBN
https://www.youtube.com/c/RightSideBroadcastingNetwork/videos

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Good News From Israel - Achievements and Heartwarming Stories
In the 19th Jun 22 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
https://verygoodnewsisrael.blogspot.com/2022/06/israels-good-news-newsletter-to-19th.html
http://verygoodnewsisrael.blogspot.com/

Mishpacha Jewish Family Weekly
https://mishpacha.com/

Likud insider MK Yoav Kisch shares new details of the Likud’s quiet
efforts to bring a fatally flawed coalition to its end
https://mishpacha.com/death-by-a-thousand-cuts/

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Todah Rabah - beloved Ted Belman writing from Jerusalem, Israel for 20+ years ...  
THERE IS NO DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION
Israel should declare three nos;
no to nuclear Iran, no to two-state solution, no to bi-national state
 

Likud - May Golan: “‘Bennett government sold Israel’s safety to Muslim Brotherhood'”
vid> https://youtu.be/uDciypJeLNs (6:42) 6/22/22
https://www.israpundit.org/iltv-interview-of-may-golan-excellent/

Jesse Watters: John Kerry is back in business
foxvid> https://youtu.be/_TU-0V5_xR8 (10:03) 6/22/22
https://www.israpundit.org/jesse-watters-primetime-6-22-22-biden-and-kerry/

Never Before Seen J6 Footage: Antifa Escorted In Vans, Pence Given 3 Choices By GOP, Betrayed Trump
vid> https://rumble.com/v19fsfo-never-before-seen-j6-footage-antifa-escorted-in-vans-pence-given-3-choices-.html (15:15) 6/22/22
https://www.israpundit.org/never-before-seen-j6-footage-antifa-escorted-in-vans-pence-given-3-choices-by-gop-betrayed-trump/

Jordan and Israel team up
T. Belman writes, They are both selling the Jordan Option after years of silence.  
vid> https://youtu.be/rj02L2qQd3I (5:27) 6/14/22
https://www.israpundit.org/jordan-and-israel-team-up/

JORDAN: PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE: The Jordan Option Revisited  
vid> https://youtu.be/ipsJYq2CH7k (41:01) 5/17/22
linx> https://www.israpundit.org/jordan-option-israels-legal-rights-and-compensated-emigration-explained/

The Jordan Option Conference Videos reposted
https://www.israpundit.org/the-jordan-option-conference-videos/
https://www.israpundit.org/jordan-past-present-and-future-the-jordan-option-revisited/

>> The Jordan Option, plain and simple
https://www.israpundit.org/the-jordan-option-plain-and-simple/
>> The Jordanian Option is the only game in town
https://www.israpundit.org/my-jordan-option-is-the-only-game-in-town/
>> The Ultimate Alternate Israel-Palestine Solution by Ted Belman
https://www.israpundit.org/the-ultimate-alternate-israel-palestine-solution-3/

Kindly donate to support the work I do
by Ted Belman
https://www.israpundit.org/please-donate/

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Quest For The Lost Tribes - Full Simcha Jacobovici Documentary
vid> https://www.bitchute.com/video/jbB2ELq4xPw/ (1:33:29) 8/18/19
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simcha_Jacobovici
12 Tribes of Israel: The Shevatim
https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/3798842/jewish/12-Tribes-of-Israel-The-Shevatim.htm
https://www.jewishvoice.org/read/blog/who-are-tribes-judah


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In this week's Parsha Shelach
we read about the spies journey to Canaan.  They return with a bounty of grapes, pomegranate and a fig - a sure sign of providence and a land that is blessed with tremendous gifts.  Although a false tale of giant warriors is the headline, it is the symbolic foods that help sustain the hope and prayers of the faithful.  This week's Shabbat menu celebrates with recipes that showcases the delicious fruits of the land.
https://jamiegeller.com/holidays/pomegranate-infused-shabbat-menu/

18 Summer Meal Ideas For Hot Days
https://jamiegeller.com/recipes/18-summer-meal-ideas-for-hot-days/

Baked Cod with Potatoes and Green Beans
https://jamiegeller.com/recipes/baked-cod-with-potatoes-and-green-beans/

Creamy Israeli Gazpacho
https://jamiegeller.com/recipes/creamy-israeli-gazpacho/

Vegan Cauliflower Steaks With Gremolata
https://jamiegeller.com/recipes/vegan-cauliflower-steaks-with-gremolata/

3 Ingredient No Bake Halva Bites
https://jamiegeller.com/recipes/3-ingredient-no-bake-halva-bites/

Jamie Geller Reunites with Heroic Farmers in Jerusalem
To keep the biblical mitzvah of shmitah   
vid> https://youtu.be/uDwO31572as (36:30) 5/15/22 JG
$180 donations receive my new Farm to Table Cookbook
https://campaigns.causematch.com/SupportOurFarmers
http://supportourfarmers.org
vid> https://player.vimeo.com/video/660942292 (10:42)
FREE Farmers-Guide-for-Produce (7 page pdf)
https://tinyurl.com/Farmers-Guide-for-Produce

Vegan Recipes
https://jamiegeller.com/search?query=vegan+recipes  
Cook the 21 Most Popular Recipes of 2021
https://jamiegeller.com/from-jamie/cook-the-21-most-popular-recipes-of-2021/

This is Where You Can Find Me Most of the Time
JewLish - One People - Many Flavors

https://www.instagram.com/p/CLpomjPnHcZ/
https://www.instagram.com/jamiegeller/
https://www.facebook.com/jamiegeller
https://www.facebook.com/jewlishbyjamie/
https://www.youtube.com/c/jamiegeller/videos
https://jamiegeller.com/

The answer is, it's made with love from Israel ! 
https://jamiegeller.com/from-jamie/my-jewish-food-memories/
My Love Affair With Jerusalem
https://jamiegeller.com/from-jamie/my-love-affair-with-jerusalem/
Lots of 💕 Jamie - Until next week Shabbat Shalom from Israel ! 


Joy of Aliyah 
http://jamiegeller.com/tag/joy-of-aliyah/
https://jamiegeller.com/tag/joyofisrael/
Jamie Geller Welcome's You
vid> https://youtu.be/XO-owES713c (0:35) JG 

Jerusalem Street Food with Jamie Geller Spices
vid> https://cdn.jwplayer.com/players/CluuvDpk-FSMnt4zj.html (10:56) JewLish   
Machane Yehuda - https://jamiegeller.com/browse/a-haute-market-in-jerusalem-the-shuk/
https://jamiegeller.com/browse/4-israeli-desserts-inspired-by-the-shuk-in-jerusalem/

The Jamie Geller Spice Collection: Now Available Worldwide!
Sending you love and my heartfelt wishes for peace, from Israel.
New Trio of Pilaf Mixes - Mujadara Lentil, Festive Herb and Jeweled Almond
https://www.amazon.com/stores/Jamie+Geller/page/55E36343-CF6F-4E88-A4D5-D7C1C0274F7F
https://www.amazon.com/shop/jamiegeller  

Babies, Books, and a Billion Views: My Decade in Review
https://jamiegeller.com/from-jamie/a-decade-in-review/

Best of the Best w Hubby - Family Heirloom Cholent ...
vid> https://youtu.be/Ae2-lQVFsGw (12:01) 8/11/11 JG classic
https://jamiegeller.com/recipes/family-heirloom-chulent/
https://jamiegeller.com/blogs/cholent/

Jamie at Aish - Chief Media & Marketing Officer
https://www.aish.com/authors/48868432.html
https://www.aishhatorah.com/
How You Can Make the Future Brighter
vid> https://youtu.be/fclstyB-1rA (2:48) Aish
https://www.youtube.com/c/Aishdotcom/videos

Free Hebrew course Aleph Bet
This entire four-lesson course in 30 minutes.
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The Influence of the Hebrew Bible on America's Founding Fathers
vid> https://youtu.be/jE6Sqh-kezw (7:15) J-TV
https://www.aish.com/jl/h/h/The-Influence-of-the-Hebrew-Bible-on-Americas-Founding.html
Serpents of Desire: Good and Evil in the Garden of Eden. An Introduction
https://www.aish.com/jl/b/eb/ge/48966101.html

Jamie Hanala Geller
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Tamar Genger MA, RD
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Titles by Jamie Geller
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https://jamiegeller.com/blogs/
The High Holiday Recipe Collection - free eBook
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Join My Way Better Cooking Class with Jamie Geller
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Jamie's Quick & Easy Shabbat Menu App
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LIVE Series: FEED YOUR SOUL
https://jamiegeller.com/from-jamie/feed-your-soul/
 

Then the Lord spoke to Moses saying, ‘Send out for yourself (shelach lecha – שְׁלַח-לְך) men so that they may spy out
the land of Canaan, which I am going to give to the sons of Israel; you shall send a man from each of their fathers' tribes,
a leader from each tribe.
Numbers 13:1–2

Shabbat Shalom - Parasha Shelach Lecha (Send Forth) - Courage to Take Your Promise !!!

 
Welcome to Shelach Lecha (Send Forth), this week’s Torah portion.
 
Shabbat Shalom
 
This is the portion of Scripture that will be read in synagogues around the world this Saturday (Shabbat) morning. We are certain you will be blessed as you read along with us!
 
Parasha Shelach Lecha (Send Forth)
Numbers 13:1–15:41; Joshua 2:1–24; Romans 4:1–25
 
“Then the Lord spoke to Moses saying, ‘Send out for yourself (shelach lecha – שְׁלַח-לְך) men so that they may spy out the land of Canaan, which I am going to give to the sons of Israel; you shall send a man from each of their fathers' tribes, a leader from each tribe.’”  (Numbers 13:1–2)
 
Last week in Parasha Behaalotecha, God commanded Aaron to light the lamps of the Menorah, and the tribe of Levi was initiated into the service of the Sanctuary.
 
This week’s Parasha (Scripture portion) describes how God tests the Israelites by sending out 12 meraglim (spies) to check out the situation in the Promised Land (as God had commanded them) before going in to take possession of it.
 

A view of the Old City of Jerusalem

The Promised Land Is Bountiful
“‘Be of good courage.  And bring some of the fruit of the land.’  Now the time was the season of the first ripe grapes.”  (Numbers 13:20)
 
God instructed Moses to send one chieftain from each of the 12 tribes of Israel to scout out the land of Canaan.  Among the spies were Caleb, son of Jephunneh from the Tribe of Judah and Hosea (Hoshea), son of Nun from the Tribe of Ephraim.  Later, Moses changed Hosea’s name to Joshua.
 
When Moses sent out the spies, it was the season of the first ripe grapes.  They were to go in with courage and bring back a sample of the fruit of the Land.  They were also to assess the characteristics of the inhabitants, the fortification of the cities, and the existence of any trees.
 
After 40 days, they returned with a cluster of grapes from the Valley of Eshkol (cluster), which was so bountiful that they had to tie the cluster to a pole and carry it on their shoulders.  Here in Israel, the grapes will begin to ripen around mid-July in the heat of summer.  So it is likely that the spies went into the Promised Land around the end of July.
 
The spies also brought back pomegranates and figs.  These fruits grow in abundance today in the Land of Israel — a miracle since this land lay barren and lifeless for about 2,000 years.  
 
The fact that the Land of Israel is fruitful again is evidence of God’s great mercy and grace, as well as His faithfulness to His covenant promises.
 
 
The Number 40
Why were the spies scouting the land of Canaan for 40 days?  
Why not 30 or 7?
 
The number 40 is significant in the Bible as it is the number of testing, preparation and leadership, as well as the harbinger of something new.  (Jewish Wisdom in the Numbers)
 
We see this pattern many times in the Scriptures:
  • In a dramatic new beginning, rain fell for 40 days and nights during the Flood before the waters stopped and the world was repopulated. (Genesis 7:4)
  • Moses lived in Egypt for 40 years, was prepared for leadership in Midian for 40 years, and finally led the children of Israel in the wilderness for 40 years as a new nation.
  • Moses fasted on Mount Sinai for 40 days and nights before he went down the mountain with the Ten Commandments.
“Moses was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights without eating bread or drinking water.  And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant — the Ten Commandments.”  
(Exodus 34:28)
  • Goliath challenged the Israelites twice a day for 40 days before David defeated him, which began a great following by the people.  (1 Samuel 17:16)
  • Yeshua was tested by the devil in the wilderness for 40 days before He began His public ministry.
“Then Yeshua was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.  And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry.  Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, ‘If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.’”  (Matthew 4:1–3)
  • The period from the resurrection of Yeshua to His ascension was 40 days, a period of preparing the disciples for the work that lay ahead. (Acts 1:3)

Jesus and the Disciples Going to Emmaus, by Gustave Dore
 
10 Spies Inspire Fear Rather Than Faith
“There we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak, who come from the Nephilim), and we seemed to ourselves like grasshoppers, and so we seemed to them.”  (Numbers 13:33)
 
After 40 days, all 12 spies essentially testified to the entire Israelite community and Moses that the land “does flow with milk and honey!” just as God had promised.  (Numbers 13:27) 
 
Despite that, they also saw that the cities were fortified and that giants lived in the Land.
 
Rather than focusing on the great fruitfulness of the Land, they focused, instead, on the great size of the inhabitants in contrast to their own smallness.
 
Caleb tried to counter their defeatist attitude by assuring the people, “We are well able to overcome it” with God’s help.  He urged them,  “Let us go up at once and occupy it.”  (Numbers 13:30)
 
The other 10 spies, however, instilled such fear in the people that the whole Israelite community began to cry and shout, “If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this wilderness!”  (Numbers 14:1–2)
 
Departure of the Israelites (1830), by David Roberts
 
In their apprehension, they forgot how the Lord had sent ten plagues and even parted a sea for them, so they cried more:   “Why is the LORD bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword?  Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. ... We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt.”  (Numbers 14:3–4)
 
Of course, this is not the first time the people wanted
to go back to Egypt. 
 
In Parasha Beshalach, the people stood trapped between an advancing Egyptian army and the Red Sea.  Terrified, they told Moses, “Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians’?  It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!”  (Exodus 14:12)
 
Then God parted the Red Sea and crushed the Egyptian army.
 
When they reached the other side of the sea in safety, they were already craving the food back in bondage:  
 
“If only we had died by the LORD's hand in Egypt!  There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death."  (Exodus 16:3)
 
Then God sent manna every morning for them to eat.
 

The Gathering of the Manna (c. 1900), by James Tissot
 
In Parasha Behaalotecha last week, we saw that they got tired of the manna and remembered the fish they “ate in Egypt at no cost — also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic.”  (Numbers 11:5)
 
Then God sent quail, along with judgment for their continual complaining.
 
Throughout their wilderness journey, they complained to Moses and about Moses for many reasons.  Each time, they witnessed God’s judgments and mercy.  Yet, they still did not fully apprehend His love for them, nor His ability to keep His promise to give them a land of their own.
 
God said it best: “How long will these people treat Me with contempt?  How long will they refuse to believe in Me, in spite of all the signs I have performed among them?”  (Numbers 14:11)
 
Druze fruit stall
A Jewish woman buys fruit from a Druze Muslim in the Golan Heights.
 
Moses Intercedes for the People
“I will strike them with the pestilence and disinherit them, and I will make of you a nation greater and mightier than they.”  (Numbers 14:12)
 
Because of their rebellion and unbelief during this test of faith, God threatened to destroy the entire community of Israel instantly and start all over again with Moses.
 
God gave Moses this same opportunity in Parasha Ki Tisa when the people He had just delivered from bondage worshipped a Golden Calf instead of Him.  (Exodus 32:9–10)
 
Being the most humble man on the face of the earth, however, Moses refused to accept God’s offer to replace Israel then and, again, now.
 
Instead, he appealed to the Lord’s merciful nature, asking to forgive the people — the same people who railed against Moses and Aaron and threatened to stone Caleb and Joshua just a short time earlier.  Moses reminded the Lord:
 
“The LORD is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity and transgression, ... Pardon the iniquity of this people, I pray, according to the greatness of Your mercy, just as You have forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now.”  (Numbers 14:18–19)
 
Jewish prayer
A Jewish teen wearing a tallit (prayer shawl) and a kippah (head
covering) prays using a siddur (prayer book).
 
Moses also appealed to the Lord’s reputation as a God of integrity who is able to do all that He promises.  Moses told Him:
 
“They [the Egyptians] have heard that you, O LORD, are in the midst of this people. ... if you kill this people as one man, then the nations who have heard your fame will say, ‘It is because the LORD was not able to bring this people into the land that He swore to give to them that he has killed them in the wilderness.’” 
(Numbers 14:14–16)
 
Because of Moses’ intercession and appeal to God’s reputation and merciful nature, God relented from completely destroying the entire nation of Israel; nevertheless, He decreed judgment on those who refused to trust in God the way Joshua and Caleb trusted in God.
 
“I have forgiven them, as you asked.  Nevertheless, as surely as I live and as surely as the glory of the LORD fills the whole earth, not one of those who saw My glory and the signs I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness but who disobeyed me and tested me ten times — not one of them will ever see the land I promised on oath to their ancestors.  
 
"No one who has treated me with contempt will ever see it.  But because My servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows Me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it.”  (Numbers 14:20–24)
 
The entire generation (ages 20 and up) who had just been counted in the census would not enter the Promised Land they so feared.  instead, they would die in the wilderness; only Joshua and Caleb would live to enter the Land.
 
Torah ark at the Western (Wailing)
                            Wall
Torah ark at the Western (Wailing) Wall (Photo by
James Emery)
 
The Lessons for Us Today
What lessons can we learn from this account of Israel in the wilderness?
 
First, we need to be people of faith, seeing ourselves as sons and daughters of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords — and not tiny grasshoppers to be crushed under some giant’s foot.  We need to believe that no matter what challenge we face today, we are “well able to overcome it” with God’s help.
 
This is the kind of faith that pleases God.  Without it, it is impossible to please Him.  (Hebrews 11:6)
 
Second, as people of faith, we need to guard our speech and speak forth faith-filled words.
 
Why did the whole community of Israel die in the wilderness?  They reaped the fruit of their faithless, fearful words.
 
The people said many times, “We will surely die in this wilderness,” and God allowed them to speak
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