Overcoming
Obstacles - based on Parashat Shelach
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Some minor alterations have been made relating to Names and Attributes having been corrected.
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Overcoming Obstacles
A Study Based on ‘Parashat Shelach
With Rabbi,
Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens,
PhD.
Wandering in the desert for forty years was
certainly not part of Elohim’s plan for the Children of Israel.
Personally I have actually travelled all around the Sinai and visited
Elohim’s Holy Mountain ‘Mount Horeb’, whilst I was on one of
my visit’s to Israel. However, I did it from
Please Note: Although these days there is a Mount called Sinai, however Moshe only ever visited Mount Horeb, which was called “The Mountain of Elohim”. OK, so rabbis have like in so many instances changed words and names, but the word ‘Sinai’ simply means ‘wilderness’, and being in the dessert they were never on a mountain called Sinai! But these days, tourists go to Mount called Sinai, which is a fake!
And they believed that, יְהוָה
Elohim, blessed be His Sanctified Name, would provide
military might. Still, Elohim sought the people’s partnership. Elohim and
Moshe was asked to deputize twelve spies, one
“prince” from each tribe, to scout out the Land. The spies were
given two charges: First, they are to report about the Land itself: If it was a
good and a fertile land, flowing with milk and honey as promised? Then, the
spies are to assess how the Israelites should go about conquering the
“And they came unto the valley of Eshcol, and cut down from thence a branch with one cluster
of grapes, and they bore it upon a pole between two; they took also of the
pomegranates, and of the figs” Be’midbar -
Numbers 13:23 (JPS).
Forty long days later the twelve men returned from their journey into the land and two men were bearing a long pole with large cluster of grapes as well as pomegranates, and of the figs.
“And they returned from spying out the
land at the end of forty days. And they went and came to Moshe, and to Acharon
- Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children of
Thus they certainly reported that it was a good and fertile land, flowing with milk and honey just as it was promised? “‘We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it”.
Yet the spies also returned with a mixed report. Even though they all agreed that the Land was magnificent, but on the other hand, ten of these spies reported that the land could not possibly be conquered, for they also stated;
“‘… the
people that dwell in the land are fierce, and the cities are fortified, and
very great; and moreover we saw the children of Anak there. Amalek dwelleth in the land of
the South; and the Hittite, and the Jebusite, and the
Amorite, dwell in the mountains; and the Canaanite dwelleth
by the sea, and along by the side of the
They claimed that
The Israelites, hearing the report from these
spies, became very disheartened. They sulked in their tents and they refused to
enter the land promised to them. The fact is that they lost their nerve, but
more to the point, they had also lost their faith. They no longer believed that
Elohim would assure their safe passage into the
“Caleb stilled the people toward Moshe, and said: ‘We should go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.’ But the (ten) men that went up with him said: ‘We are not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.’ And they spread an evil report of the land which they had spied out unto the children of Israel, saying: ‘The land, through which we have passed to spy it out, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of great stature. And there we saw the Nephilim, the sons of Anak, who come of the Nephilim; and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight’” Be’midbar - Numbers 13:30-33. (JPS).
And sadly just like before in the wilderness, even having seen Elohim’s great miracles, B’Nei Yisrael rebelled against Moshe’ and they continually angered Elohim greatly and this time He reacts swiftly to the people's crisis of faith!
“And all the
congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that
night. And all the children of
Elohim, blessed be He, announces a new plan:
B’Nei Yisrael will wander in the dessert for a total of forty years.
Those who fail to trust Him, an entire generation will die in the wilderness.
Only their children will enter the
As we will well know there were only two men who were the exceptions. You will recall that ten of the twelve spies had told the people about unconquerable giants and unassailable city walls, etc. The remaining two Yahushua - Joshua and Kalev - Caleb attempted in vain to calm the people, to assure them that they could enter the Promised Land after all, with Elohim’s help.
But, sadly they were not successful and they
did not achieve their desired outcome: The Israelites remained hunkered down in
their tents, petrified of moving forward into the Land. Elohim did not
intervene to help Yahushua - Joshua and Kalev - Caleb persuade
the Israelites. Nevertheless, they were richly rewarded. Unlike their entire
generation, for they would survive the forty years of desert wandering and be
the only two to enter the
Some rabbinical commentators argue that
Yahushua - Joshua and Kalev - Caleb are blessed because they tell the truth about
the Land, while the other spies lie. A closer reading of the Torah itself,
though, suggests a different scenario. They did not actually ever deny the
presence of gigantic enemies in the Land. Neither do they insist that the
cities fortifications can easily be breached or scaled. Instead, Yahushua -
Joshua and Kalev - Caleb insist that, whatever the challenges that lie ahead,
they can be met successfully with יְהוָה Elohim's help. Elohim,
who has redeemed
What can we Learn from this event?
This study asks the question, are you willing
to be like Yahushua - Joshua and Kalev - Caleb? Living a life full of faith and
trust, regardless the obstacles that may lie before us? These two great men of faith has certainly
taught me that “Bitachon”
- בִּטָּחוֹן -
‘real trust’ does not require us to believe that everything will
always go perfectly. Instead, with “bitachon”,
‘true faith’, we can be optimistic that we will be O.K., regardless
the outcome.
Not every significant challenge is life-threatening. Many may have lost a job at one point or another, especially during some years ago when there was Covid-19 throughout the world, and the many other tragic times the world has seen, and are sadly still seeing! There are those who have lost their careers, thus their livelihoods, and their futures are threatened.
Again, we are only human but do not let anger and denial be the only part of our response. I am well aware how difficult it might be to choose to be like; Joshua, for myself am the person who is mentioned when I wrote the words “faced with a devastating diagnosis” but we must recognize the real obstacles and trust our beloved יְהוָה Elohim, blessed be His Sanctified Name, for He will never ever allow us to be alone. I have been ill for many, many years, but He has been my strength and my comfort each and every day!
We can always go and wander in the wilderness for forty years, but better still we can quiet those defeatist voices inside ourselves, just as Kalev - Caleb tries to do and hush our complaining brethren. With ‘bitachon’, ‘true trust’, but they just did not want it! We must look forward and face the future towards better days, and believe me they will come!
With ‘bitachon’,
‘true trust’, may we all follow the example set by Joshua and Kalev
- Caleb: Let us never deny the challenges before us.
Let us always live with the kind of faith that will tell you, that even the
Greatest Obstacles can be overcome. Thus why not trust that, and with
Elohim’s help, we can reach the Promised Land, together!
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In
Conclusion, a Question to Deepen the Conversation:
Which
part of this Tanach study or possibly a particular
line within it has touched you the most? And how do you feel about
spending more time studying our beloved Tanakh? I
pray that you are you doing well as a faithful Hebrew, and אֱלֹהִים - Elohim willing you are
upholding as many of our blessed Mitzvoth’s?
I
am well aware that the modern world sadly contains far too many deviations as
well as problems that seem to get in the way. Yet worse than that, these days
there are far too many enticements, which can so easily throw many off track. Thus, if there are struggles
that may be taking place in your life, be it at this or any time, I am well
aware that sadly it can often have a cruel effect upon your life? Remember
this, pray for peace, and then work on keeping as calm as possible and
learn to improve your life, for אֱלֹהִים is always there and ready to help and guide you! This site is
also for those who need to return to our blessed and wonderful faith, thus work
on your faith and pray and always seek אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s guidance!
And
remember what אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, blessed be
He, said the following to a number of our prophets...
“Return
unto Me, and I will return unto you, saith צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה- the LORD of hosts”. Mal’a’chi - Malachi 3:7. MEC).
And Remember ...
Enjoy your
Sabbath Rest, Shabbat Shalom!
אֲנִי
יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, בְּחֻקּוֹתַי
לֵכוּ; וְאֶת-מִשְׁפָּטַי
שִׁמְרוּ, וַעֲשׂוּ
אוֹתָם
וְאֶת-שַׁבְּתוֹתַי, קַדֵּשׁוּ; וְהָיוּ
לְאוֹת, בֵּינִי
וּבֵינֵיכֶם-לָדַעַת, כִּי
אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם
“I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה
(the LORD your God); walk in My statutes,
and keep Mine ordinances, and do them; and hallow My Sabbaths, and they shall
be a sign between Me and you, that ye may know that I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה - YaHVaH Elohim”. Yechezkel
- Ezekiel 20:19-20. (JPS).
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Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben
Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
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