SHELACH – WHEN THINKING HELPS · Sukkat Shalom B'nei Noach

בס”ד

This week we learn about the spies.

Moses sent twelve men to look at the Land of Israel.

He wanted them to see what the land was like. Were there cities? Were there trees and fruit?

G-d wanted them to use what they saw to get ready for the journey.

But ten spies made a mistake.

They saw big people and strong walls. They became afraid.

They said, “We cannot go into the land.”

That was not their job.

G-d had already promised that the people would receive the land. The spies only had to see the best way to enter it.

The spies used their minds in the wrong way. Instead of helping with G-d’s plan, they started to doubt it.

We can learn from this.

G-d gave us a mind so we can think and make good choices.

Imagine your mother asks you to clean up your toys. You look around and think, “What is the best way to do it?” Maybe you put away the big toys first and the small toys next. That is a good use of your mind.

But what if you say, “There are too many toys. I can’t do it.” Then you are using your mind to find an excuse.

That is what the spies did.

So we should always ask ourselves:

Am I using my mind to do the right thing?

Or am I using it to find a reason not to do it?

When we use our minds to do what God wants, we bring more kindness, honesty, and goodness into the world.

By Rabbi Moshe Bernstein and Angelique Sijbolts

Source: Numbers 13:2. Likutei Sichot, vol. 23, pp. 92–95.

If you want more questions for contemplation, SEE THE OTHER BLOGS FROM RABBI MOSHE BERNSTEIN