The sin of the spies is one of the most serious transgressions committed by the Children of Israel. Almost the entire nation followed them, expressing a lack of faith in G-d's ability to overcome the nations of Canaan. For this, the generation of the wilderness was severely punished: they died in the desert and did not merit entering the Land of Israel. Rabbi Akiva even says about the people of that generation that, “they have no share in the World to Come.”
Nevertheless, we find that Moses had self-sacrifice even for this generation. Our Sages say that Moses did not merit entering the Land of Israel but died on the other side of the Jordan, so that in the future, at the time of the resurrection of the dead, he will rise and lead his generation into the Land of Israel. Since they remained in the desert, Moses remained with them—and when the time comes, he will lead them to Redemption.
Three Righteous Men
The Zohar compares three righteous individuals who lived in generations that were not worthy: Noah, Abraham, and Moses. These three tzaddikim represent three different approaches to dealing with those who behave improperly.
Noah, upon hearing that G-d was going to bring a flood upon the world, prayed only for himself and his household and did not attempt to save his generation. Only when asked why he was building the ark did he reveal that G-d was planning to destroy the world with a flood—and even then he rebuked them only in response, not on his own initiative.
In contrast, Abraham did not wait for others to come to him. He “called there in the name of the Lord, the eternal G-d”—he publicized G-d's name in the world. Still, his efforts were focused on creating tzaddikim, and for those who were not righteous, he did not pray. When he heard that G-d intended to destroy Sodom, he pleaded for the decree to be annulled in the merit of the righteous. But when told there were not even ten righteous people, he had nothing further to claim—“and Abraham returned to his place.”
Beyond Logic
Moses' approach was different. He was the faithful shepherd of the Jewish people. When the people sinned the gravest sin—the sin of the Golden Calf—Moses demanded that G-d forgive even the wicked among them. He didn’t just pray, he went so far as to say that if G-d would not forgive them, He should erase Moses’ name from the Torah—“Erase me now from Your book which You have written.”
Moses endangered himself for the people of Israel—even for the lowest among them. His self-sacrifice was beyond reason and logic, for according to logic, there is no basis to pray for deliberate sinners like those who made the calf. Yet Moses made every effort to save even them.
To Save Every Jew
The path of Moses is the path that the leaders of Israel are expected to follow—especially after the giving of the Torah, when G-d forged a covenant with every Jew. The leader of the generation risks himself for every Jew, with no exceptions. He does not weigh things with reason or logic but is wholly dedicated to saving every Jew—no matter who they are.
The true shepherd of Israel does not think of himself. He completely nullifies his own self and personal concerns, devoting himself entirely to the needs of the generation.
(from the teachings of the Rebbe, Likkutei Sichot, Vol. 2, p. 322, translated from Sichat HaShevua)
