The Chidushei HaRim zt'l has another explanation of how the meraglim sinned. He explains that the meraglim thought it was better for the Jewish nation to live in the desert than to live in Eretz Yisrael. In the desert, they had Moshe Rabbeinu as their Rebbe; they had the mann and didn't have to work to earn a living. All the Jewish nation had to do was invest in studying the Torah and serving Hashem! This was an ideal situation; therefore, they spoke lashon hara and convinced the nation that it wasn't safe to enter Eretz Yisrael.
However, they should have believed that only Hashem knows what's best for the Jewish nation. And if Hashem desires to bring them into Eretz Yisrael, that is the best situation for them.
The Chidushei HaRim’s grandson, the Sifsei Tzaddik (Shelach), writes, “I heard from my grandfather zt’l, that the meraglim were great tzaddikim who were moser nefesh for Klal Yisrael that they shouldn’t fall from the level they were on in the desert. They were successful because all these forty years the Dor Hamidbar didn’t have to carry the burden of the materialistic world on their shoulders. Their only occupation was Torah and avodah. Their sin was that they thought of this idea on their own. They should have relied on Hashem and trusted in Hashem’s hashgachah.”
The Beis Avraham zt’l said, “There are those who want to daven and others who want to learn. But to want what Hashem wants, that’s something else, entirely.”
In the song אכסוף ה"י (Friday night zemiros) it states, רצונך שערי לפתוח ורצון נועם להם פתח. The Beis Avraham explained, “Give them the pleasure and desire to do Your will.” Our goal should be to do what Hashem wants, not what we think is best.
Rebbe Elimelech of Lizhensk zt’l and Rebbe Zusha of Honipoli zt’l were once in prison together. In their cell, there was a bucket meant to be used as a toilet. Rebbe Elimelech was very upset because they couldn’t even daven and learn Torah, as it is forbidden to learn Torah in a room with a stench.
His brother, Rebbe Zusha, asked, “Why are you upset? We desire to serve Hashem. Now we can do Hashem's will by refraining from learning and davening!”
They began to dance, happy to fulfill Hashem’s will. The guard rushed to see why they were dancing. When he saw them dancing around the bucket, he said, “Oh, this is what you are so happy about," and he took the bucket away from them. Now, they were able to daven and learn, as well.
A Slonimer chasid had to be in America for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. He wrote a letter to his Rebbe, the Birchas Avraham of Teveria zt'l, and expressed his immense tzaar that he was so far from the Rebbe during these holy days.
The Rebbe wrote back, “Hashem sets up a ladder for every Yid, with which he can climb up to reach high levels. Yosef’s ladder, for example, was in Mitzrayim. From that dark place, he reached very high levels and is called Yosef HaTzaddik. Since you must be in America for the holy days, Hakadosh Baruch Hu certainly arranged a ladder for you there. The ladder reaches heaven. Therefore, accept your fate with love.”
