Lessons Of The Spies

What can we learn from the story of the meraglim?

The children suggested that we learn 1. about the severity of lashon harah, 2. the value in Eretz Yisroel and 3. that it is important that we heed the examples others provide, for the meraglim did not heed the example provided by Miriam.

I suggested that this parsha teaches us an important lesson. It seems as though Hashem had told Moshe to send the meraglim. In reality, however, Hashem was merely going along with what they had wanted. The Ibn Ezra makes note of this, that although Hashem explicitly authorized certain things, He was dead set against them. He SAID to go ahead and do them, but He did not want them done. This too was the case here. (Two other cases that come to mind is Hashem telling Billam that he could go – see Ibn Ezra there – and Moshe separating from his wife, where although Hashem authorized it, Miriam suspected Hashem was just going along with it, but it was the wrong thing to do).

In life as well, where a person wishes to go, he is generally led. So the fact that he may be successful means little in actually determining whether or not it was the proper thing for him to do.

If so, how indeed can we calculate if we are doing what we want or what Hashem wants? We suggested one test, formulated by Rav Dessler: Even when you think you are in the right, consider the other path. Often enough, you will agree that the other way is right too, maybe even more right, only that your way is also okay. That should be a red flag to you. If the other way is right too, chances are that it is the only right, – and that your way is flat-out wrong.