Based on the Dvar Malchus of the Shabbos Parshas Shlach, 5751
The main theme of this week's parsha is the exciting story of the shluchim Moshe sent to Eretz Yisrael, heads of the twelve tribes who acted as spies, and their sad ending.
The Haftorah recounts a similar story with the spies Yehoshua sent across the Jordan River into Israel. They entered Yericho and realized that the Canaanim were afraid of the approaching B'nai Yisrael. They happily returned to Yehoshua with the news.
When we think about the two stories, we notice that there are basic differences between them, differences that tell us of their different missions. Moshe decided on his own to send spies, but Yehoshua sent them because Hashem told him to do so.
Another difference between the two stories is that in this week's parsha, those who were sent by Moshe were called people, whereas those that Yehoshua sent were called spies. Moshe sent twelve famous people to see what the land was all about. Everyone knew they were going. Yehoshua, in contrast, sent only two. No one knew about their mission; their names weren't even written in the Torah. They went into Yericho for just a few hours and immediately returned. All of the differences have one reason in common, as we will soon see.
Moshe Wanted – Moshe did
When an army is about to wage war against a tough enemy, spies help a lot when they pass along information about the enemy, such as where they're located and the way they feel, either afraid or confident.
However, in Moshe's time, Hashem didn't ask for spies. Hashem promised that He would give us the land and would fight for us. Therefore, there's no reason to send anyone to spy in order to win the war. It was clear that this war would be won in a miraculous way.
Moshe was aware of this but nonetheless, he agreed to B'nai Yisrael's request to send people, but for a different purpose. Moshe is our faithful shepherd and felt that it was necessary for them to see the land and how good it actually was. Furthermore, he knew that when the Jewish nation would hear from people who were actually there, it would make it a lot easier to happily go up to the Land of Israel.
Therefore, he told B'nai Yisrael that he will send the leaders of the twelve tribes who would tour the entire Land of Israel. When they return, each leader would tell his tribe that he saw the entire land including his tribe's portion. He can testify that the land is in fact very good.
In contrast, in Yehoshua's time, Hashem said that due to our sins we will not experience such great miracles. Therefore, Hashem instructed Yehoshua to secretly send spies to see how the non-Jews in the land are preparing for war. When they heard while in Yericho that the inhabitants of the land were afraid of the approaching Jewish nation, they could now return to Yehoshua and tell him that they can safely enter the land.
Interesting. Moshe sent those people in order that they should come back with praise of the land, and that's what happened. They returned to the desert with good fruits from the land and showed them to the nation. They told them that it was a land that flows with milk and honey. Moshe Rabeinu's reason for sending them became a reality.
B'nai Yisrael intended that these leaders would help them conquer the land. Their plan didn't work out. Their report only made the Jews afraid when they were told of the mighty warriors that were there. They did something that they weren't told to do, decreasing the importance of their mission. In the end, after all those years, they happily entered the Land of Israel, just as Moshe Rabeinu wanted.
The spies – Unity
Chassidus teaches us that the conquest of the Land of Israel hints to and teaches us that the land will be purified through Torah and mitzvos. The sending of the spies, those that Moshe sent as well as those that Yehoshua sent was a spiritually preparation. Moshe sent twelve spies from the twelve tribes who toured the entire land. All Jews are responsible for each other and all of us together purify the land, including parts that don't belong to us.
Yehoshua later on sent only two spies, something that united the entire nation. One of them was Calev, who was from the first group of spies in Moshe's time. The other one was Pinchas, from the tribe of Levi. Why send a representative from the tribe of Levi if Levi has no portion in the land?
Levi was separated from the rest of the tribes because of the type of avodas Hashem they have. Therefore, they have no actual portion in the land. In the future, the entire land will become even more holy and the entire Jewish nation will be ready for a higher type of avodas Hashem. Then the tribe of Levi will also get a portion in the Land of Israel. Already from the time of Yehoshua, about three thousand years ago, preparation already started towards the revelation of the Melech Hamoshiach.
Tachlis
Let's put a lot of emphasis on Jewish unity. First of all, let's think of a way how we can do something good for another Jew. How can we help him spiritually, make him happy, or to help him become more observant? Furthermore, how can we help him in his material needs to make things in life a little bit easier? We can even give tzedaka on behalf of someone, or learn Torah with him. These things increase Jewish unity.
Jewish unity is especially emphasized with the takana the Rebbe Melech Hamoshiach made for all of us to learn Rambam every day and all children who are soldiers in Tzivos Hashem to learn Sefer Hamitzvos every day. Happy are we who have the Rebbe Melech Hamoshiach Shlita who teaches Chassidus to the Jewish nation and to the entire world. The Rebbe unites the whole world with Hashem and the Jewish nation through the learning of Chassidus.
Moshiach
"...The same should apply to us immediately on this day of Shabbos Parshas Shlach what it says in the Torah reading..."He informed them that they should go into the Land of Israel..." as well as what it says at the end of the Haftorah "...Hashem gave us the entire land and all the inhabitants of the land have melted away because of you..."
... Especially including the last moments of exile; we should be strong regarding the complete Land of Israel and land that Hashem gave. It should not be returned, chas vishalom, not even the smallest amount, to the nations of the world...
...And all Jews come to the complete Land of Israel, and more, and most important, it should happen immediately!"
