Rabeinu B’chayei says that the world was created B'derech HaTevah, and it’s normal and proper to go to work, to a doctor, and to elect spies before going to war. But Hishtadlus carries the danger of: חַטְבִי רֶשֲׁא רֶבֶגַּה רוּרָא םָדָאָבּ ירמיה יז ה the curse that comes from having Bitachon in a human. Notice how Kalev and Yehoshua said: רָס םָלִּצ ט די their shade has slipped away, which means that their Tzaddik, Iyov, who was their : לֵצ shade and protection, was Niftar.
Kalev and Yehoshua were interested only in the Ruchaniyus of the situation; not in who is physically stronger. They also said: הָּל לַכוּנ לוֹכָי ל גי we will surely succeed, i.e., we are capable. They were unafraid and told everyone: וּאְריִתּ לַא יד ט do not fear them. People who are fearless have Bitachon, and in wartime those who had fear had to go back home, because it was a sign of sinning.
Kalev and Yehoshua didn’t have Bitachon in Hishtadlus, and who is stronger or weaker meant nothing to them. They were: 'הַבּ חַטְבִי רֶשֲׁא רֶבֶגַּה ˂וּרָבּ ירמיה יז ז people who receive a Bracha because of their Bitachon in Hashem, and they were both Zoche to Bracha and long life, etc. in contrast to the Meraglim who were involved in Gashmiyus and Teva, who got K'lalos, Rachmana Litzlan, and they even lost their Olam HaBah .
The question arises: Why did Yehoshua again send spies [Kalev and Pinchos] later. Notice that all Kalev and Pinchos heard from Rachav HaZonah was that the 31 Canaani kings were frightened, a sign of: ָי ֵר ֵמ א ַﬠ ֵב וֹרי ֶשׁ ת ְבָּי וֹד fear that comes from spiritual weakness. That “spy story” was entirely Ruchaniyus.
When You Are Not Impressed by Humans, They Are to You Just Like Food
The Mashgiach R' Yerucham Levovitz Zatzal points out on the passuk ונמחל יכ הם how by Kalev and Yehoshua, human beings were just like mere food that we can eat up! This explains why: בֵלָכּ סַהַיַּו םָﬠָה תֶא ל גי Kalev hushed the nation; he was capable of quieting down an entire belligerent nation singlehandedly, since in his eyes people didn’t really count. They could be just like mere bread and can be eaten up! When Kalev went alone to be Mispalel by the Avos, he was looking to escape the pressures of humans; in his case it was a Minyan of Gedolei Torah who were a bad influence on him.
So, he went to the Avos in order that he could become part of their group! The Avos all stood up against the entire world, and stood for Kalev as a symbol of true Emuna and Bitachon; i.e. when you feel only Hashem, and humans are all baloney. When a person is Mispalel by Kivrei Tzaddikim, he should beg Hashem that he himself should become like the Tzaddik whose Kever he is visiting.
We Can All Connect with The Avos
A person should constantly give himself a lofty “shtempel” [“The best in Lakewood”] and it can save you from great Nisyonos like the Meraglim. Kalev was also involved in thinking big when he went to Kivrei Avraham, Yitzchok, and Yaakov. “I’m one of them!”
Kalev and Yehoshua had to fight “public opinion”, and the only way to do this is to realize “their” foolishness and “your” superiority. We can all connect with the Avos. In fact, Chazal say: ַחָי ָא בי ָדם לוֹ ַמ ָמ ר ַתַי י ִג וּעי ַמ ֲﬠ ַש ְל י ַמ ֲﬠ ֵשׂ ַא הבוֹ ַת י A person is expected to ask himself: When will my deeds reach the lofty heights of the Avos? The Novardokers were very involved in previous Doros, almost as if they actually knew those people.
So, when Kalev feels as if Avraham Avinu is right next to him, his Nisayon isn’t so great. Avraham was called “the Ivri” since the whole world was on one side, and he was “Ever”, i.e., on the other side, and he went against them. So did Kalev go against the Meraglim, and he learned from Avraham Avinu not to Chap Hispa'alus from the multitudes.
Kalev didn’t have Moshe like Yehoshua did, and that’s a big Ma'ala. When you have only Hashem, you actually come out on top; and only Kalev was called: בֵלָכ יִדְּבַﬠְו My servant, Kalev by Hashem. Pulling yourself away from the populous and preferring Hashem is a phenomenal Zechus; Hashem appreciates it and rewards for it.
BECOME GREAT IN BEING SAMEACH B'CHELKO
The Torah says that all the Meraglim were: םיִשָׁנֲא Anashim, which means distinguished men. When a person becomes distinguished, he is happy about his accomplishments and the recognition that he gets. He should remember though, that along with this comes a distinguished Yetzer Hara. RSRH Zatzal says that the Meraglim were prominent and popular. Everybody wants to be well-liked and popular. Remember, they all lost their Olam HaBah, and according to the Magen Avraham this is despite their doing Teshuva!
Every Yid should want to become great. However, it’s worth more becoming great in being Sameach B'chelko. The truth about learning “Shas” and being Osek in “Tzeddakos” and in “Dikduk HaMitzvos” is that it makes you a better person, and hopefully a Sameach B'chelko. If it doesn’t, then you must spend much more time on Mussar like Shaar HaBitachon
We can also suggest that: יָרֲחַא אֵלַּמְיַו He was “fully” after Me, is a Remez of the general Derech of Kalev; that he was always a: ָמ ֵל א full type and a Sameach B'chelko to the extreme. And this is why he was Zoche to pass such a difficult Nisayon, that even such great Tzaddikim [i.e. the Meraglim] were not able to withstand
