Parshat Sh'lach- Looking for Flaws
by Rabbi Lobel

(Numbers; Chapter 13 Verses 1-2) "G-d spoke to Moses saying, "send forth for yourself men and let them spy out the Land of Canaan that I give to the Children of Israel."

Before entering Israel , Moses sent spies to scout the future land of Israel . Rashi comments that the Israelites wanted to send spies and G-d gave Moses permission to grant their wish.

The Sforno (13:2) explains that G-d set one restriction on the spies - they had to be selected by Moses, as the verse says, "send forth for yourself." The Sforno elaborates that G-d was afraid the Israelites might pick ordinary people who wouldn't recognize the good of the land and would be tempted to speak derogatorily.

Would the Israelites have sent people who could not appraise land? Wouldn't they have sent experts whose opinions could be trusted? If Israel had sent able men, why would they not recognize the good in the Land of Canaan ?

Because most people look for the bad. No matter how special was the Land of Canaan , a land "flowing with milk and honey," most people would search for the imperfections. G-d recognized that all people have the inclination to find flaws in everything around them.

Only those that have worked on their personal character traits can avoid the pitfall of looking for flaws in others. G-d instructed oses to handpick the most qualified people in hope they would rise above their natural inclinations; only then was there a chance they would not complain and slander the land. Unfortunately, that did not work either.