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June 13, 2026

Rabbi, in this week’s Torah portion the Almighty told the Jewish people to send spies which seems to make sense before you go to war. They went and told the truth as they saw it. Why are they blamed and the Jewish people blamed when they didn’t want to go? The report was scary.

I can understand how someone might read the story that way. However, when the episode is retold in Deuteronomy, it becomes clear that sending the spies was actually the Jewish people’s idea. As Russy explains, the Almighty cautioned them that it was a mistake, assuring them that the Land was good.

The spies’ report was factually accurate, but their interpretation was not. A land capable of sustaining large populations living in fortified cities is evidence of abundance, plentiful food, and rich resources. The Medrash explains that many funerals took place during the spies’ visit so they could pass through unnoticed. Yet instead of seeing this as Divine protection, they concluded that it was “a land that eats its inhabitants.”

The spies’ error was viewing positive circumstances through a negative lens and failing to trust the Almighty’s promise that the land was good. This teaches an important lesson for all of us. Life often presents both blessings and challenges, and while challenges can help us grow, we should be careful not to interpret every difficult situation negatively or overlook the love and blessings that the Almighty sends our way. We all benefit from cultivating the ability to recognize and appreciate the good in our lives.

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