There is a famous but unfortunate event that occurs in this week's Torah portion, "Shelach." Moses (through G-d) sends out 12 leaders of the tribes of Israel, to travel ahead and scout out the land of Israel.
But instead of focusing on the positive aspects of the land "which flows with milk & honey," with trust in G-d that they could & would conquer the land, 10 of the spies reported: "We are unable to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we." They spread an [evil] report about the land which they had scouted, telling the children of Israel, "The land we passed through to explore is a land that consumes its inhabitants, and all the people we saw in it are men of stature. There we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, descended from the giants. We were like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and so we were in their eyes." (Numbers, 13:31-33)
The 2 remaining spies, however, reported: "We shall surely ascend and conquer it, we can surely do it!" (Numbers, 13:30)
Were these 12 men looking at the same land? At the same enemy? How could they have perceived the situation in such differing ways!? Significantly, the verse quotes the spies as saying: "We were like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and so we were in their eyes." There is an old saying that goes: "Whether you think you can, or that you cannot—you are right." The Torah is telling us, that it was because the spies looked at themselves as weak, as unable to succeed, that their enemies in the land of Israel looked down upon them. When a person has self esteem, as well as trust in G-d, then there is nothing to fear. If one thinks that others look down upon him for whatever reason, often it is because that person looks down upon himself.
I remember when I was younger, often I would hide my Jewish identity, thinking I would get more respect. But when I began walking around proud of my Judaism, others I met showed great respect for the Judaism I represented. "G‑d doesn't ask of us more than what lies in our power to do." (Midrash Tanchuma, Naso 11) In life we encounter many tests and seeming obstacles, but the lesson we learn from the story of the spies, is that if we approach life's tests with trust in G-d, and in ourselves, with self-esteem and self confidence, we will succeed. The 2 spies that looked at the land positively, with trust in G-d, ended up being a part of the conquering of the land 40 yrs. later, while the other 10 spies died in the desert.
May we have trust in G-d, and look positively at our situation, ourselves, and our great potential!
Shabbat Shalom!
-Daniel
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