Timeless Torah

Spies. The very word in this week’s Biblical reading invokes images of suave, caftan-robed, ancient versions of James Bond, blessed with nine lives, nerves of steel and a self-assurance that borders on arrogance. They are resourceful, unafraid individuals who are willing to risk their lives on behalf of their country.
The spies that Moshe sent were supposed to be of that ilk. Even the Torah rates them as, “Men of character, quality, and of good name.” Unfortunately their confidence, and therefore their mission, failed. Heaping disaster upon failure, they not only blinked in the face of danger, they transmitted their fear to the nation. They informed the people: (Numbers 13:33) “We saw the sons of giants, we felt in our own eyes like grasshoppers next to them, and that is how we were considered in their eyes.”
The Talmud in Sotah actually discusses whether the spies in fact overheard the huge, overpowering inhabitants say that they saw man-like grasshoppers in their presence or only imagined it. The recorded discussions and disputes of the Sages were not duly noted in the Talmud to tickle our imagination. If the Sages related what the giants may have said or how they perceived the spies, it must be of some relevance. But isn’t the main thrust of the story to show the Jewish lack of faith in the Almighty and the spies’ spiritless self-evaluation, and not the perception of others?
Since our Biblical tale deals with one of the original Canaanite Giants, let me tell you a story regarding another giant in American culture, a Brooklyn Dodger by the name of Jackie Robinson.
In 1947, Jackie Robinson was hired as the first black baseball player in the Major League. Despite malicious and racist harassment, appalling physical and verbal attacks, he played fearlessly and professionally. Throughout his career he refrained from responding to the repulsive provocations while gaining notoriety as one of the greatest players of his era. What kept him going was his attitude. He felt equal to any white player.
On the day of his professional debut, his wife was excited to attend her husband’s first major league performance. Before Jackie left for the stadium he gave her some advice. “You’ll have no trouble spotting me out there on the ball field,” he said with a smile. Then he paused. “I’ll be wearing number 42.”
This is what bothered the Rabbis. How was it possible for the spies to have concluded that, “We were considered in their eyes (like grasshoppers)?” Did the 12 scouts go knocking on doors, posing as pollsters? “Excuse me Madam. Do extremely small people (like us) resemble grasshoppers?” Or perhaps the question went this way, “Sir, what was the first thing that came to your mind when you saw me at your doorstep?”
The explanation is in the text itself. “We felt in our own eyes like grasshoppers next to them, (therefore) that is how we were considered in their eyes.” Their preconceived notions of self had serious consequences to their mission, and spiritual relevance to ours. For from the moment one views himself as a grasshopper in the eyes of others, that is how he compels them to view him.
Perhaps if the spies had more faith in G-d, they would have viewed themselves as able-bodied soldiers who had the capacity to defeat any giant. This is similar to the blessing in Leviticus, “Five of you (Israelites) shall pursue one hundred.” However this only works when we are confident of G-d’s spirit accompanying us.
We can be giants, too! But when we look at ourselves with unreasonable insecurity, we hear our adversaries calling us insects. Simply put, you can’t have the vision of a giant when you have the eyes of an insect.