The Power of Resolve

By 29 Sivan 2449, the people had reached the border of the Land of Israel. Some of the people asked Moses to send spies into the land. Moses consulted with G-d, and G-d agreed to this plan. 

See what the land is, and the people who inhabit it: are they strong or weak? Are they few or many? 

Numbers 13:18

The phrase describing the people whom G-d had commanded the Jews to conquer – “are they strong or weak” – can be read, “if they are strong, they will become weak.” This teaches us that in our conquest of the materiality of the world, no matter how strong and overwhelming this materiality (our “enemy”) appears to us, if we dedicate ourselves fully to the battle, the enemy will sense this and be weakened by our resolve.

This is why Moses mentioned “are they strong” before “are they weak.” We have to be ready to oppose the powers of negativity no matter how formidable they appear, and then, they will be rendered weak, and much easier to subdue.

—From Daily WIsdom