 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
Torah Reading: Numbers 13:1-15:41
Haftarah Reading: Joshua 2:1 – 24
Gospel Reading: John 7-8
Sivan 20, 5767 June 6, 2007
Parashat Shlach (to send)
Haftarah Reading: Joshua 2:1 – 24
Gospel Reading: John 7-8
Sivan 20, 5767 June 6, 2007
Parashat Shlach (to send)
The sidra of shlach contains the episode of the spies Moses sent to
gather intelligence about the land of Canaan. Twelve spies were
sent, of the twelve only 2, Joshua and Caleb gave a good report.
The ten reported the land was fertile, its inhabitants were too
strong and their cities too well guarded to be defeated by the
Israelites. They broke the morale of the Israelites. The Hebrew
word for “than we” can also be translated as “than Him.” So they
were claiming that the enemy was even too strong and powerful for
G-d. How were these ten men able to reduce the people to
despair; a people who had witnessed the miracles of deliverance
from Egypt and protection and provision in the wilderness? Why
were Joshua’s and Caleb’s report and encouragement
disregarded?
The possession of the land meant a new kind of responsibility. The
miracles would be replaced by labor and occupation. The spies
had drawn a distinction between miracles and natural events. But
this was an error. The will of G-d is to be found in the sanctification
of the natural world. In crossing the Jordan, they were to pass
beyond a faith that lives in miracles, into a life that would sanctify
time and place. It would turn the natural world into the home of G-
d. The act, which discovers G-d within the everyday shows that G-
d, is truly everywhere. G-d’s presence is in every human trans
transaction. Their reluctance to accept the responsibility of
changing the world was also an unwillingness to move beyond their
private comfort zones. We are to reach out beyond ourselves to
our fellow human beings, to the work place, extending G-d’s
holiness without fear. No situation lives outside the domain of G-d.
G-d has promised success. We have a job to do, and we need to
ask ourselves how best to do it, rather than if we can do it.
gather intelligence about the land of Canaan. Twelve spies were
sent, of the twelve only 2, Joshua and Caleb gave a good report.
The ten reported the land was fertile, its inhabitants were too
strong and their cities too well guarded to be defeated by the
Israelites. They broke the morale of the Israelites. The Hebrew
word for “than we” can also be translated as “than Him.” So they
were claiming that the enemy was even too strong and powerful for
G-d. How were these ten men able to reduce the people to
despair; a people who had witnessed the miracles of deliverance
from Egypt and protection and provision in the wilderness? Why
were Joshua’s and Caleb’s report and encouragement
disregarded?
The possession of the land meant a new kind of responsibility. The
miracles would be replaced by labor and occupation. The spies
had drawn a distinction between miracles and natural events. But
this was an error. The will of G-d is to be found in the sanctification
of the natural world. In crossing the Jordan, they were to pass
beyond a faith that lives in miracles, into a life that would sanctify
time and place. It would turn the natural world into the home of G-
d. The act, which discovers G-d within the everyday shows that G-
d, is truly everywhere. G-d’s presence is in every human trans
transaction. Their reluctance to accept the responsibility of
changing the world was also an unwillingness to move beyond their
private comfort zones. We are to reach out beyond ourselves to
our fellow human beings, to the work place, extending G-d’s
holiness without fear. No situation lives outside the domain of G-d.
G-d has promised success. We have a job to do, and we need to
ask ourselves how best to do it, rather than if we can do it.
| Ministry of Gates of Praise Ministries, Inc. © Copyright Gates of Praise Ministries 2007/2008 |