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Daily Chizuk #1392
Weekly Parasha
Complete Return: The Desire for Proximity to Hashem
Parashat Shelach: Each Challenge a Test
In this week's Parasha, Shelach, we read about the lack of emunah the Jewish people had in Hashem, which caused them to have to wander in the desert for 40 years before they could finally enter Eretz Yisrael. The Mefarshim tell us that the sins of the ז' עממין, the seven nations who occupied Israel at that time, did not yet reach the level that would warrant them to be expelled from the land. They still had 40 years left until that time would come. So it appears that the Jews would've had to wait 40 years either way to enter the land. Based on this, the Arugat Habosem asked why Hashem took them out of Mizraim at this specific time, knowing they wouldn't be able to enter the land anyway for 40 more years.
We have opportunities to show our emunah every day of our lives. When things happen that threaten to disturb our peace of mind, we can either lose ourselves and feel hopeless, or we can say, "Hashem is behind this. I know it happened for my best, and I know going forward Hashem can help me get out of it in an instant."
If the Jewish people would've known what was at stake when they were tested with the Meraglim, they would've easily passed that test. We must remember, each challenge we have is also a test, and there is so much we could accomplish when we have emunah during those challenges. If we can strengthen our emunah, we are not only going to enjoy our lives better, and not only going to get closer to Hashem, and not only be earning eternity, we will also be helping the entire klal Yisrael. This is the zechut we need to attain our final ge'ula which we are yearning so much for. It will come when we collectively raise our level of emunah, and that will happen when each person takes it upon himself to improve in his own personal life in emunah.
Shabbat Shalom!
In this week's Parasha, Shelach, we read about the lack of emunah the Jewish people had in Hashem, which caused them to have to wander in the desert for 40 years before they could finally enter Eretz Yisrael. The Mefarshim tell us that the sins of the ז' עממין, the seven nations who occupied Israel at that time, did not yet reach the level that would warrant them to be expelled from the land. They still had 40 years left until that time would come. So it appears that the Jews would've had to wait 40 years either way to enter the land. Based on this, the Arugat Habosem asked why Hashem took them out of Mizraim at this specific time, knowing they wouldn't be able to enter the land anyway for 40 more years.
We have opportunities to show our emunah every day of our lives. When things happen that threaten to disturb our peace of mind, we can either lose ourselves and feel hopeless, or we can say, "Hashem is behind this. I know it happened for my best, and I know going forward Hashem can help me get out of it in an instant."
If the Jewish people would've known what was at stake when they were tested with the Meraglim, they would've easily passed that test. We must remember, each challenge we have is also a test, and there is so much we could accomplish when we have emunah during those challenges. If we can strengthen our emunah, we are not only going to enjoy our lives better, and not only going to get closer to Hashem, and not only be earning eternity, we will also be helping the entire klal Yisrael. This is the zechut we need to attain our final ge'ula which we are yearning so much for. It will come when we collectively raise our level of emunah, and that will happen when each person takes it upon himself to improve in his own personal life in emunah.
Shabbat Shalom!
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