Shelach Lecha
“Shelach Lecha” means “send out for yourself,” referring to the spies that Moshe will
send into Canaan to do a little “reconnaissance” on the strategic strengths of the various
peoples living in Canaan. When the spies let their fear get the better of them and bring
back an evil report, Abba YHWH officially enacts punishment that they will spend an
additional 40 years wandering in the wilderness, or a total of 42 years from the time they
left Egypt. However Caleb and Joshua prove themselves to be the voices of righteousness
and will not give into fear.
Then, for the second time, Abba YHWH offers to destroy all Israel and start over a new
tribe with Moshe as leader and the fallout from this occasion is most interesting, to say
the least. Chapter 15 though also follows the pattern of the previous cycle when Abba
YHWH offered to start over with Moshe, Moshe refused, and the final verdict from Abba
YHWH comes down. In both cases, Abba YHWH reassures Israel by re-issuing his
Torah requirements, meaning that even for those who will die in the wilderness the tribes
they are part of will live through obedience to Abba YHWH’s Word.
