Devarim
What thought patterns do the spies in the parsha represent?
Reflection by Ariel Yisraelah Hendelman, the Or HaLev Team:
"The last of the five books of the Torah, Devarim, is essentially a review from Moshe of the highlights (and lowlights) of the last 40 years. It spans a mere 37 days, which means it’s almost a one day for one-year equivalent.
In this first portion of Devarim, Moshe recounts the episode of the spies. He quotes the people, saying that:
'אַחֵינוּ הֵמַסּוּ אֶת לְבָבֵנוּ'
`Our brothers have dissolved our hearts!` (1:28). What a wrenching way to describe the effect of the spies’ negative report on the morale of the people.
From the mindfulness point of view, the spies represent negative thought patterns that repeat in loops, often stimulating unhealthy habits and old modes of false protection in our systems (our internal `Children of Israel`). Thinking that is clouded by cynicism, doubt, and mistrust is not bad, per se; it’s a natural product of our minds that are built to continuously churn out thoughts. When it becomes a problem is when we don’t have the internal space or presence to witness it for what it is, so we buy in unconsciously.
What’s the antidote according to this week’s portion? Emunah!
וּבַדָּבָ֖ר הַזֶּ֑ה אֵֽינְכֶם֙ מַאֲמִינִ֔ם בַּיהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃`
`הַהֹלֵ֨ךְ לִפְנֵיכֶ֜ם בַּדֶּ֗רֶךְ לָת֥וּר לָכֶ֛ם מָק֖וֹם לַחֲנֹֽתְכֶ֑ם בָּאֵ֣שׁ ׀ לַ֗יְלָה לַרְאֹֽתְכֶם֙ בַּדֶּ֙רֶךְ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר תֵּֽלְכוּ־בָ֔הּ וּבֶעָנָ֖ן יוֹמָֽם
`And in this matter you didn’t have faith in the Lord your God. Who goes before you on your journeys—to scout the place where you are to encamp—in fire by night and in cloud by day, in order to guide you on the route you are to follow.`
Speaking to the Children of Israel, Moshe critiques them for where they missed the mark in the episode with the spies, instructing them that exactly what was missing was emunah, faith. When the spies go to scout out the land, whenever our negative thought loops start spinning, we can recall that the One Who Made All is the ultimate Source of everything, including those thoughts. We can pause, take a few deep breaths, ask for help from the One to not get sucked into the negative.
We can remember who goes before us…and after."