The story is told of two shoe salesmen from competing companies who are sent to a foreign country to assess the shoe market. They both notice that no one wears shoes on this island.
Salesman one sends the following telegraph to company headquarters. “Mission aborted, no need for product.”
Salesman two also sends a telegraph to his leadership. “Keep the factories running overnight. Untapped market, infinite potential!”
I’m reminded of this story when we encounter two nearly identical descriptions of how challenging the land of Israel would be to conquer and inhabit. Although at face value they seem similar, a closer examination reveals that they could not be further apart.
The posuk in this week’s parshah says, “Crossing the Jordan to come in, the nations greater and stronger than you, Great cities, fortified up to the heavens, A colossal and towering nation, The children of giants, Whom you know and whom you have heard, Said, ‘Who can stand against the children of the giants?'”
This sounds exactly like the rhetoric of the spies. A doomsday prognosis by a group of people who saw no hope or future in Ertetz Yisrael. But this is not the word of the spies. It’s the words of Moshe. The greatest lover of Eretz Yisrael and champion of hope and faith. Why is Moshe speaking like this? And how exactly is it different from the spies’ cynical stance?
The Lubavitcher Rebbe provides an empowering insight. Moshe was a master motivator. But he was also a realist. He knew that the road ahead of the young Jewish nation would be daunting. Moshe was a man of truth and he told the Jewish people exactly what they would be confronting. It will be a difficult and demanding conquest, he explained.
You may become disheartened and immoralized. But here is where Moshe differed from the spies’ words. “You shall know on this day that it is the Lord your G-d who passes before you as a consuming fire, and He will subdue them before you.”
Moshe is telling them that although arduous, entering Eretz Yisrael will be imminently possible.
Hashem is with you, and He will lead the way. Moshe didn’t make light of the challenges the Jewish people would be facing. He spelled them out and inspired the nation to overcome them. Some of the darkest words spoken in World War II were declared by leaders of the free world. Churchill proclaimed to his entire country, “I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears, and sweat. We have before us an ordeal of the most grievous kind. We have before us many, many long months of struggle and of suffering.”
Far from being demoralizing, these words sparked resolve, courage, and fortitude to forge forward. A leader doesn’t hide from reality, he equips his nation with the tools to face it.
We each have our own promised land we need to reach, and there’s a daunting Jordan River we need to cross. There are colossal obstacles and towering opposition that we need to climb. Moshe’s message is that we have the capability and sacred mandate to overcome them all. Hakadosh Baruch Hu is at our side, guiding and empowering us.
The reality is that no shoes are being worn. There are roadblocks and resistance to navigate and we can either be intimidated or encouraged. It’s up to us how we will respond. Moshe’s words teach us that the most effective way of dealing with our struggles is not by dismissing their strength, but by recognizing our own.
Wishing you a wonderful Shabbos.
