for parshat Shelach
i
God tells Moses
to send men
to spy out the Land
that the people will conquer.
Moses tells these spies:
be strong.
*
The men spy out the land
they are brave
they are strong
they pass mighty nations
they pass wild nations
they capture the land’s fruit
they bring it back
they show it to their brethren.
ii
But they say:
the people of the land
are stronger than we are,
our nation cannot conquer them.
*
Joshua and Caleb,
two of the spies,
argue with the others:
God is with us,
they say;
there is nothing to frighten us.
But it is too late.
The other spies have already wreaked panic,
the other spies have already wreaked doubt,
the people doubt God.
And God
nearly leaves the people over this.
iii
In God’s command
in Moses’ word
the spies find bravery
the spies find strength
they find their potential
but they do not find God.
So they lose everything.
_____
Shabbat shalom,
Abe
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