Shlach Lecha is filled with lessons on action. God says to Moshe, “For yourself, send people to scout out the land.” For yourself, not for Me. Moshe sends twelve scouts, each one a leader in his own tribe. Twelve scouts go together. Once on their mission they see very different things. All twelve see the wonders of the land. They see the great produce, the abundant milk and honey, and they see the people. For two, Calev and Joshua, their faith drives them. They see these inhabitants, but know they can prevail. For the other ten, faith is not enough, they are paralyzed and powerless against the current residents.
Upon their return to the Israelites, these ten report their views of the population. As leaders of their tribes, they spread despair amongst the Israelites. Moshe and Aaron fall on their faces before the Israelites. Only Joshua and Calev stand up to the slander. The Israelites threaten their very lives.
For their actions, Joshua and Calev are promised entrance into the Land of Israel. Moshe and Aaron are doomed to die in the midbar with the rest of the Israelites age 20 and up. As a community they accepted the words of the ten over the two. Had Moshe or Aaron spoken against the ten there may have been a different ending, instead they choose to respond with nothing. There must have been others among the Israelites who would have followed Calev and Joshua, but they too remained silent. Had one person, whether a leader or a layman, spoken up, perhaps others could have been swayed and the story changed. This is a theme that has played throughout history.
Edmund Burke is reported to have said, “All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.” We all should take this to heart, and speak our minds when our conscience directs us.
