by Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback
When the reward is considerable – necessary even – how do find the courage to move forward despite real obstacles that stand in our way?
In this week’s Torah portion, Sh’lach L’cha, twelve men, one from each tribe, are sent to scout out the land of Israel. They are to return to Moses and report on their findings. Are the people of the land strong? Are the cities fortified? Is the soil rich?
The spies share what they have seen with Moses and all Israel. The good news is that the land is indeed flowing with milk and honey, the soil is good and the fruit is plentiful. The bad news is that its cities are fortified and its inhabitants are many and physically imposing, giants even.
Hearing this, the Israelites are, understandably, afraid.
And then Caleb of the tribe of Judah quiets the people and says: “Let us by all means go up! We shall gain possession of the land – we can surely do it!” (Numbers 13:30)
Interestingly, Caleb makes no attempt to discredit or refute their report. What the spies say about the land seems to be objectively true. However, we can still go up and take possession of the land.
Caleb knows that the risks are real – he saw it all with his own eyes. But he also knows that there is no other choice. Returning to Egypt is not an option. The only way forward is to go up and to take possession of the land. It must be done and so his advice to the people is that it can be done.
There are challenges in our lives that are real. There are obstacles that appear to be insurmountable for us as individuals, as a community, as a People, and as a nation. We fear failure, defeat. And sometimes, indeed, the better part of valor is discretion. Sometimes wisdom demands that we back away from the challenge, that we retreat quietly. The risk is simply not worth the reward. But there are times when the proper choice, the only choice, is to go up, to move forward with a sense of faith that the objective can and must be achieved.
May we be blessed with the wisdom to know when we the risk is worth it, the courage to do so when required, and the faith to believe that we will prevail.
