Shlach

We all trust some people more than others. I, for one, trust nobody and you may trust 99% of the people around you. It’s normal, I think. Actually, I take that back. I tend to misjudge normal by a wide margin so if I think something is normal…it most likely isn’t. Humanity is hard to understand. Anyways, in parshat Shlach we are encountered with some major trust issues. The 12 spies come back and give conflicting reports about the land. 10 spies say there are giant enemies that will surely destroy them. Two spies disagree. The wandering Israelites FREAK OUT. They start wishing they were back in Egypt. “Why did Hashem bring us out of this land just to be killed here???” That’s not a direct quote. It’s my version of the story. Hashem dooms them to forty more years in the desert and tells them they will never enter the promised land.

Don’t the Israelites complaints seem justified? I wouldn’t want to end my desert wandering with a hopeless battle in which I will surely be killed. Plus, the Israelites (while constantly complaining) have had some trials and tribulations on the way. They seem to deserve a break, in my humble opinion.

The problem wasn’t with their logic. The problem was with their trust. When Hashem tells you that the land is yours to conquer…you should probably do it. And by probably, I mean definitely. Hashem has provided for them the entire time. They saw amazing miracles, received the Torah, had manna falling from heaven; what exactly does Hashem need to do for them to let go and just trust that it will be okay?? As mentioned above, trust is a concept I have a hard time with. I really have no idea how to let go and let someone else help out. I’m an independent person and I don’t believe that anyone else is capable of doing the right thing. And I have an amazing amount of stress and inability to sleep at night because of it. But…I’m working on it.

 Letting go and believing that God will take care of you is an important skill. One that the Israelites never learned and were punished severely for. We don’t have to live with all burdens on our shoulders all of the time and in this week’s parsha we learn just how unfortunate our future will be if we don’t just chill out. That’s right. The message of this week’s parsha, from my perspective, is to chill out. Hashem has got your back.