In the Torah portion “Shlach,” we see a stark contrast between the Torah reading and the Haftarah, the prophetic reading. In the Torah portion, the spies sent by Moses return to the Israelites with a discouraging report, claiming that conquering the land of Israel is impossible due to the strength and number of its inhabitants. This report demoralizes the people of Israel.

In contrast, the Haftarah- prophetic reading, describes the mission of two spies, Caleb and Joshua, who return with an encouraging report despite facing significant challenges. Pursued by the king of Jericho and forced to hide, they still manage to deliver a positive message, believing that the Israelites can succeed in conquering the land of Israel.

This raises the question: why is there such a contrast between these two readings? The difference lies in their mindsets. The spies sent by Moses relied heavily on their intellect and assessment of the situation, while the two spies in the Haftarah, Caleb, and Joshua, were strong in their trust in Moses and his leadership.

This explains the difference in outcomes. These contrasting stories highlight the importance of belief and trust. When faced with challenges, faith can empower us, even when logic seems discouraging. The Haftarah emphasizes that success depends not just on the situation but also on our perspective, particularly our full trust in Moses’ leadership, which guides the people of Israel in every generation.

*This is from a series of articles by Rabbi Bernstein Moshe.