Spiritual Reflection, June 2023

Shelach!

One of my favourite Torah portions, Shelach (“Send!” - Numbers 13:1–15:41) occurs on June 17th. Moses sends the twelve spies to reconnoiter the land of Canaan. Forty days later they return, carrying a huge cluster of grapes, a pomegranate, and a fig, to report on a fertile and fruitful land, the ideal for the Israelites wandering in the desert of Sinai. But ten of the spies warn that the inhabitants of the land are giants and warriors “more powerful than us;” only Caleb and Joshua insist that the land can be conquered, as Hashem has commanded.

The people are fearful and complain, saying that they would rather return to Egypt. As a result of their lack of faith the Almighty decrees “not one shall come into the land where I swore that I would make you dwell, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun” (Numbers 14:30 ESV).

This month we meet for the Yachad BeYeshua conference in Toronto. Some of us will be there in person, others joining online. Whilst on a somewhat smaller scale than the Israelites entering the land of Canaan, we too will be spying out a particular “land”—a place where Jewish disciples of Yeshua can prosper and thrive, living out their lives and callings as part of both Israel and the Body of Messiah.

Despite the lack of faith of the generation in the wilderness, the Israelites would eventually, under Joshua, take possession of the land, a sign of the faithfulness of Hashem to his covenant people. Today as Jewish disciples of Yeshua, waiting some 2,000 years for the promises of Hashem to be realized amongst both Church and Israel, we are called, like the spies, to bring a good report—a report of fruitfulness and fertility—that comes from knowing Yeshua, rejoicing with his people, and trusting in his provision.

Richard Harvey