“A nd the matter was good in my eyes and I took from you 12 men one man for each tribe.” (Devarim 1:23)

Rashi says that the spies were selected from the finest of each shevet.

The Ramban (Bamidbar 13:4) says that the Torah lists the spies’ names in order of greatness; Yehoshua was fifth on the list. From here we see the incredible level of each spy. However once the request was made to send spies Hashem said “I will give them a way to err.” (Rashi Bamidar 13:2)

As Chazal say (Yoma 38b): “One who wants to become impure it’s opened for him.”

Compare this to the episode with Rachav Hazonah. She endangered herself by hiding the spies. The strength for this action stemmed from her clear belief that Bnei Yisrael would inherit the land.

Here we can apply the second half of the Chazal: “One who comes to purify he’s helped.” (Rav Yerucham Levovitz Daas Chochmah U’mussar)

It was a huge solid oak that spread its branches across the backyard enveloping the whole house in its leafy embrace. I barely noticed it. I had my favorite tree in the front yard and this one was just part of the background scenery.

Until it came crashing down.

It was a hot humid day. East Coast summer had hit hard and the city was gasping for breath waiting for a hint of breeze. Suddenly a mighty crash sent the entire house shaking and the electricity went out.

We ran outside looking for an earthquake a plane crash anything that may have been the cause of the commotion.

Nothing. Outside the world was still slumbering in the afternoon haze.

And then my brother shouted “The backyard tree fell! It’s almost covering our roof!”

While all was quiet in the front the entire backyard was a jungle. It wasn’t even the whole tree. Just one massive branch entangled in electric lines leaning on the roof.

Within nature there’s the power of potential versus decline. A small seed develops putting out shoots and slowly grows into a big tree producing fruit. Eventually it reaches its apex and starts to wilt.

At a surface glance it seems that the big tree is more valuable than the grubby seed. Yet the true value of the seed is greater because of its future potential.

So too in ruchniyus. You can have an older person who is learned and wise but perhaps he’s starting to wilt. Compare that to a baby who’s beginning his development and growth. Despite external appearances the value of the baby is greater because his future potential is greater. (ibid.)

Our backyard quickly filled with utility men policemen and firemen all scratching their heads wondering why a huge limb should choose to plunge from its tree on a perfectly still day.

Finally a tree expert arrived. Small and wiry he harnessed up and was soon climbing like a monkey on the uppermost branches of the soaring oak. After poking around he landed nimbly on the ground holding a few twigs and delivered his verdict.

“Whole thing is dyin’. ”

Dying? The tree stood in strong splendor its branches reaching to the sky.

“It’s gotta come down. This here’s the first branch but soon they’ll all…” and he was off in a discussion of disease and drought but all we heard was the death sentence.

It took several days’ work to fell that towering tree. Yet soon it was a stack of wood leaving a huge gap exposing the back of the house to the public eye.

Herein lies the difference between the spies and Rachav. In appearance the level of the spies seemed greater but the greater the person the greater his mistakes. In contrast Rachav was on a spiritual climb.

The world values appearances and therefore they notice trees more than seeds. The Torah values growth. We each must take stock to ensure we’re always in a stage of spiritual ascent. (ibid.)

A few months later our next-door neighbor stopped my mother and gestured to the backyard. “You see that shoot? Do you mind if I dig it up and replant it?”

“That gangly thing?” My mother eyed the small growth dubiously. “Isn’t that a weed?

“No it’s the beginning of a tree. It probably came from the oak that was chopped down.”

“It’s yours if you want it.”

That was ten years ago. The spindly shoot has sprouted and grown into a huge leafy tree shading our neighbor’s yard.

Perhaps one day it’ll send some seeds to fill the empty spot where its roots began. (Originally featured in Family First Issue 552)