Finding Courage in Parashat Shelach Lecha

The torah portion, Shelach Lecha teaches us about courage, desire, and the choices we make when fear shows up. At its heart, this portion reminds us that "where there’s a will, there’s a way."

In Shelach Lecha, Moses sends twelve spies to scout out the land of Canaan. The Israelites have been journeying through the desert, and this land is their destination—the place God promised to them. The spies are supposed to check it out: Is the land good? Who lives there? Are there any risks? 

When the spies return, ten of them give a scary report: “The land is beautiful, but the people are giants! They’re way too strong for us. We’ll never survive.” This report spreads fear among the Israelites, and they begin to panic. They even talk about returning to Egypt—the place where they were enslaved—because they’re so afraid of what lies ahead.

But two of the spies, Joshua and Caleb, see things differently. They agree that the land is incredible and the people are strong, but they don’t share the fear. They say, “Yes, it’s a challenge, but God is with us. We can do this!”

This moment feels like a perfect example of “where there’s a will, there’s a way.” But let’s dig into the deeper question: Where does that “will” come from?

The word desire has fascinating roots. It comes from the Latin desiderare, which means “to long for” or “to wish for.” But if we break it down further, the prefix "de-" means "from," and "sidus" means "star" or "heavenly body." In its essence, desire means "from the stars" or even "of the divine."

This idea suggests that our deepest desires aren’t random—they’re messages from the universe. It’s almost as if they’re planted within us by something greater, calling us to step into the fullness of who we’re meant to be.

In Shelach Lecha, the Israelites’ desire to reach the Promised Land wasn’t just a fleeting wish—it was tied to something divine. Their longing for it, despite the obstacles, was an echo of their connection to God and their higher purpose.

But here’s where fear comes in. Fear makes us question those desires. It tricks us into thinking they’re impossible, even when they’re divinely inspired.

We’ve all been there, right? We’ve all wanted something deeply, but as soon as the path gets tough or scary, doubt creeps in. That’s what happens to the Israelites. Their fear drowns out their desire, and instead of moving forward, they want to go back to the “safety” of Egypt.

There’s a saying: “Do one thing every day that scares you.” Why? Because it pushes us out of our comfort zone to help us reach our desires. Joshua and Caleb felt the same fear as the other spies, but they made a different choice. They leaned into faith instead of doubt. They believed that if their desire was from God, then the path to achieving it would reveal itself—step by step—as long as they kept moving forward.

There’s a connection between desire and action. A lot of people think manifestation is about wishing for something and waiting for it to happen magically. But true manifestation requires inspired action—taking steps toward what you want, even when the path is uncertain.

Joshua and Caleb don’t just sit back and hope for the best. They actively try to rally the people, to remind them of God’s promise and to encourage them to take that first step into the land. Their faith isn’t passive—it’s active.

One of the most fascinating parts of this story is how the spies see the exact same land but come back with completely different perspectives. The ten pessimistic spies focus on the obstacles: the giants and their own smallness, while Joshua and Caleb focus on the opportunities: the land’s abundance and their own potential.

When we’re faced with a challenge, we can either say, “This is too hard; I’ll never make it,” or, “This is hard, but I can already imagine how amazing it’ll feel to reach the other side.” Both perspectives might be true, but only one moves us forward.

Life constantly presents us with Canaan moments—those times when we feel called toward something greater, but the path looks daunting. Maybe it’s a career change, a new relationship, or a dream you’ve been holding onto. We might hesitate and wait for the “right time” or for the fear to disappear. But the truth is, the right time rarely comes, and fear doesn’t vanish on its own.  

Shelach Lecha reminds us to act with faith, even when fear is loud. To trust that our deepest desires—those that feel like they’re “from the stars”—are meant to guide us toward the life we’re meant to live.

Optimism doesn’t mean ignoring the challenges; it means focusing on the possibilities. Like Joshua and Caleb, we can choose to see the opportunities instead of the obstacles. And when we do, we discover that where there’s a will, there’s a way.

May we all have the courage to step forward toward our desires, knowing that they’re divine inspiration guiding us toward our potential.