If our Heart's Desire is for Hashem
A lesson from the Tiferes Shlomo Parshas Shelach
אם חפץ בנו ה
If Hashem desires us, and He will bring us into this Land…
If Hashem desires us, and He will bring us into this Land…
When the spies came back from Eretz Yisrael, they succeeded in sowing fear in the hearts of Bnei Yisrael.
Yehoshua and Kalev tried to rally the faith of the Jewish people, declaring, “If Hashem desires us, and He will bring us into the Land.”
Using the word “if” seems to suggest that this was subject to doubt. But since Hashem had told them that He would bring them into the Land, why should there be any room for doubt?
The Tiferes Shlomo presents a novel interpretation of these words. First, he points out that the spies were Tzaddikim, who would not speak slan derously about the Holy Land.
In truth, the spies were afraid that the prosperity of Eretz Yisrael would cause the Jewish people to forget about Hashem. This is why they brought back the bountiful fruit and described the Land as one that “devours” its inhabitants.
Kalev was telling the Jewish people that they had nothing to fear. The chal lenge of wealth and success did not have to take them away from Hashem. אם חפץ בנו ה - “If Hashem desires us”, can also be read as “if the desire of Hashem is within us”. If we strengthen ourselves in the fear of Hashem and not get caught up in the pursuit of physical indulgence, there is not reason for fear. If the primary desire within our hearts is for Hashem and to serve Him, He will bring us into the Land.
And not only that, but עלה נעלה וירשנו אותה - “We will surely go up and conquer it”. We will raise ourselves spiritually and conquer the temptation for material pleasure, pushing it aside to attain our true desire of serving Hashem.
Yehoshua and Kalev tried to rally the faith of the Jewish people, declaring, “If Hashem desires us, and He will bring us into the Land.”
Using the word “if” seems to suggest that this was subject to doubt. But since Hashem had told them that He would bring them into the Land, why should there be any room for doubt?
The Tiferes Shlomo presents a novel interpretation of these words. First, he points out that the spies were Tzaddikim, who would not speak slan derously about the Holy Land.
In truth, the spies were afraid that the prosperity of Eretz Yisrael would cause the Jewish people to forget about Hashem. This is why they brought back the bountiful fruit and described the Land as one that “devours” its inhabitants.
Kalev was telling the Jewish people that they had nothing to fear. The chal lenge of wealth and success did not have to take them away from Hashem. אם חפץ בנו ה - “If Hashem desires us”, can also be read as “if the desire of Hashem is within us”. If we strengthen ourselves in the fear of Hashem and not get caught up in the pursuit of physical indulgence, there is not reason for fear. If the primary desire within our hearts is for Hashem and to serve Him, He will bring us into the Land.
And not only that, but עלה נעלה וירשנו אותה - “We will surely go up and conquer it”. We will raise ourselves spiritually and conquer the temptation for material pleasure, pushing it aside to attain our true desire of serving Hashem.