Welcome to the Daily Chizuk. We’re going to read in the parashah tomorrow about how the spies told the people that the land is unconquerable. The pasuk (verse) says, “The nation cried and complained on that fateful Tisha B'Av.” The Gemara comments, “And this Avon (sin) of crying and complaining for nothing got one of the worst punishments in history.” The whole generation had to wander in the desert for 38 years till they died out. And we know of all the tragedies that befell our people on Tisha B'Av, including the destruction of both Batei Mikdash (Temples). What type of sin did they do that could be so bad?
The rabbis teach us that their sin was rooted in the lack of Hakarat HaTov. Hakarat HaTov means to realize everything I get in life is a total gift from Hashem. I deserve nothing. Rabbi Falk explained that the people of that generation felt that the miracles in Mitzrayim that Hashem did for them came as a result of a certain Zechut (merits). They had Zechut Avot (ancestral merit). Hashem promised Avraham that He would take them out. But now, after they did the Chet HaEgel (sin of the Golden Calf), they felt that they didn’t deserve the miracles anymore and that Hashem wouldn’t beat the giants for them. They were supposed to realize: you never deserved anything. Hashem and His kindness took you out of Mitzrayim, and now Hashem and His kindness were going to give you Eretz Yisrael.
But why is not having Hakarat HaTov? The Midrash Rabbah, commenting on the first pasuk in the Torah, says, “Bishvil Bikurim, because of the mitzvah (commandment) of Bikurim, the world was created.” What’s Bikurim? It’s a gift that the landowner gives to Hashem in appreciation for all the fruit that Hashem gave him. Which means the world was created for us to appreciate all of the gifts that Hashem gives us. And Hashem gave us all of the gifts that Hashem gives us. And you can only appreciate if you feel it’s a gift. If someone says, “I worked the land, I grew the fruit, I deserve these fruits,” he missed the whole purpose of creation. You’re denying that Hashem gave it to you and that it was undeserved.
That’s why Chazal (the sages) tell us that anyone who doesn’t give charity is like worshipping idols, because he says to himself, “Why should I give my hard-earned money away?” You missed the boat. VeZacharta et Hashem Elokecha ki hu hanoten lecha koach la'asot chayil (And you shall remember Hashem your God, for He is the one who gives you strength to make wealth). The purpose of creation is to thank Hashem and recognize everything you have as a gift. And if you’re worried about getting more in the future because of your merits, that means you think you earned what you have now.
The Meraglim (spies) didn’t have the proper Hakarat HaTov. And in fact, the pasuk notes that as they were spying out the land, it was the days of Bikurim. They were being reminded of the Bikurim, the lesson of Hakarat HaTov. This midah (character trait) of Hakarat HaTov: Hakarat HaTov is the key to happiness in life. The pasuk in Tehillim says, “When we realize how much chesed (kindness) Hashem does for us, then we’ll be happy.” But it goes much further. When you realize Hashem gives you so much more than you really need, you’ll start to feel His love. When a mother gives a treat to her child, it’s so much more precious than the dinner she makes for him. He knows he needs the dinner to survive, so she, so to speak, has to give it to him. But the treat is an extra. It shows her love. All the extras we have in life are a display of Hashem’s love towards us. And when we recognize this, we’ll come to love Hashem more.
I once heard from a certain Rabbi. He told a story about himself. He said he had a baby boy. And Baruch Hashem (Blessed is Hashem), he had a very big family. And it was hard for them to be able to make two parties. They had to make a Shalom Zachar (newborn boy's celebration) on Friday night and a Berit Milah (circumcision ceremony). One of his distant relatives came to him out of nowhere and said, “We decided we’re going to make the parties for you. Don’t worry. We’re going to take care of everything—the preparations. Don’t worry about a thing.” Tremendous Chesed. The Rabbi said that Friday afternoon, he got a bouquet of flowers from that relative saying, “Congratulations, Mazal Tov.” He couldn’t believe it. Here, his relative was spending the whole day setting up for the party for the Shalom Zachar. He was taking care of the Berit Milah, and still he sent flowers? The Rabbi said the Chesed was one thing that he really needed, but the flowers were a total extra. And years later, he still feels the love from those flowers. Hashem keeps sending us those flowers every day. After taking care of all of our needs, He keeps sending us extras and extras. Let us acquire this beautiful Midah of Hakarat HaTov. And instead of crying and complaining, say thank you. Shabbat Shalom.