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“Those who doubt will be destroyed. They shall be spoken of no more.”
This is a recurring theme throughout the journey from Egypt now camped just around the bend to the Promised Land. Despite the repeated demonstrations of Hashem’s power and ability to lead Israel they persist in their murmuring. It began with the incident of the Golden Calf where they lost track of time and thought Moshe would never return.
Thousands died on that day. In the Parsha a few weeks ago when the people murmured about their lack of meat more of them lost their lives. And now in Shelach Lecha once again literally in sight of their destination they lose their faith dooming them to wander and die over a forty-year period when only their children will be allowed to enter the Promised Land.
In the Zohar for this week’s portion they talk about the sun and the moon. The sun’s light was too great for the moon therefore it had to only shine at night when the sun is on the other side of the world. One day they say the moon will be as great a light as the sun and will shine as brightly even during the night. If the sun shines too brightly the moon never will be seen except at certain times of the day and month. This we know to be true.
Another topic discussed in the Zohar is how Moshe wanted to send his scouts-spies out to seek a tree. This tree was the Tree of Live. If they found this Moshe knew he could enter into this land. If not he would never enter the Promised Land. Moshe lived at a level beyond the children of Israel and yet he hoped to enter into the Promised at his own level but this was not to be.
They also speak (Zohar) of Zeir Anpin which is the Sun and Malchut which is the moon. Zeir Anpin represents one level and Malchut another.
Zohar Shelach-Lecha 55…Rabbi Shimone says: “Come and see that the Holy One, blessed be He, praises the Torah and says, 'Go in My paths and be labor in My service, and I will bring you to good worlds and higher realms.'”
Now we’ll take all of these segments and find their connecting links. First of all make sure you understand that everything that takes place is happening right now internally as a representation of the states of consciousness that coexist side by side. Our thoughts intersperse one with the other some high some low. Some are attached to our neshamah and others to the ruach elements of our soul. What we are making happen is to unify these elements in order to visualize the whole picture.
Because of the sins of the people Moshe can no longer coexist with them. He is their leader but he cannot make it happen for them. Hashem’s covenant is yes with Israel en masse but it is also with each individual as well. Moshe has already shown the people the awesome presence of Hashem. If they choose to ignore that presence and hold on to their doubts then they will perish. The princes of Israel sent out as scouts perished immediately by plague because they not only tainted themselves but all of those who followed them. The people who were so influenced over the age of twenty would have no part in the Promised Land. Their punishment was simply to make them wander another forty years one for each day they were away spying on the Promised Land. It is at this time that Moshe recognizes that he cannot enter the Promised Land because his light would be too great just like the sun for the moon.
This type of conceptual hierarchy leads us to the consideration of Zeir Anpin and Malchut in view of their relationship above and below respectively. The flow of consciousness is always from the unknown to the known. In order to imagine the higher worlds a certain degree of faith is required letting go of the status quo in order to rise higher in the appreciation of what has become of what must be. Consciousness rides upon itself becoming a both horse and chariot and the rider all at once. As if this were not enough to conceive of we then have the added dimension of what happens when the wheels leave the ground.
Moshe is instructing Israel in this very thing through the miracles and wonders of Hashem. This type of thinking and the actions that take place because of this is something that Moshe wants the Jewish people to have as their own. The Torah itself within the Mishkan contains countless portals to these higher realms and this is the legacy of Moshe. Alas it is too soon for Israel to accept all that they are given. Therefore they wander until a new generation may embody these gifts more fully without fearful resistance.
It is said that we approach Hashem with fear and awe. The fear is the restriction that prevents us from being consumed by the light of Hashem and the awe is our ability despite that fear to let go to listen to Hashem and partake of his blessings.
Both Caleb and Joshua in this parsha were able to be a part of that vibration of awe telling the people that they didn’t have anything to worry about because Hashem is with them. In our studies and in our lives we must remember this very thing that Hashem is always with us in whatever experiences we undergo.
It is this remembering that is the focus of the last part of this parsha coinciding with the last paragraph of the SHMA that represents the world of Malchus. This paragraph has us putting on the tzitzit, the fringes on the corners of our garments to remember to do all that Hashem commands. Most of all we must remember that Hashem is always with us in all of our endeavors.
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