In this week's Parsha the Meraglim - spies went to check out Eretz Yisrael. The Meraglim spoke badly about Eretz Yisrael and sadly it was decreed that all the Yidden between the ages of twenty and sixty would die in the desert. Chazal try and understand what caused the Meraglim to speak so badly about Eretz Yisrael causing such tragedy to Klal Yisrael.
When Rabbi Moshe Teitelbaum known as the Yismach Moshe got married he dedicated himself to Torah study and spiritual elevation. However, his financial situation was very bad. He could not make ends meet. He borrowed a little bit of money here and a bit there. But his situation did not improve. One day he came home and was exhausted. The financial strain was weighing down his spiritual elevation. He sat down and made a calculation of all his debts. He added everything up plus more to last him for a year and got to the sum of five hundred gold coins. He was sure that Hashem wanted his Torah study and Mitzvos, so what's five hundred gold coins for Hashem.
He davened to Hashem and said, "please help me and give me five hundred gold coins to save my situation." He trusted that Hashem has the best way of getting him the money, he doesn't need to give Hashem any ideas. As he finished his prayer he fell asleep and had a dream. In his dream the Ari Hakadosh walked into his room lighting up the whole room. Rabbi Moshe was sure that the Ari Hakadosh came to give him the money. The Ari Hakadosh turned to him and said, "young man, and when you have the five hundred gold coins, you won't need any more help from Hashem?". And the Yismach Moshe woke up.
He had learned a life's lesson. He understood that one needs Hashem's help for every step, every move, for every breath. Hashem gives us everything. So if He gives us life, He will give us sustenance too. This was the mistake of the Meraglim. In the desert the Yidden had the mann in the morning, the slav at night, they were surrounded by the Heavenly clouds, drinking water from rocks and the Aron flattening any mountains and smoothing out any valleys.
In Eretz Yisrael that would all change. As soon as they crossed over the Yarden the mann stopped. The well of Miriam was buried in the Kineret, the clouds disappeared and they would have to fight their enemies. The Meraglim went to see how it would be living in the world like normal, not in the miraculous setting they had in the desert. In Eretz Yisrael they saw giants, large mountains, and fortified cities. It was frightening. Maybe if the giants weren't so big and the cities so fortified, they could manage. But that was their mistake. In every situation, however easy or however hard, one always needs the help of Hashem. Without Hashem's help one can't walk out of the front door, with Hashem's help one can split the sea.
