ויהס כלב את העם אל משה ויאמר עלה נעלה וירשנו אותה כי יכול נוכל לה- Calev silenced the people towards Moshe and said, “We shall surely ascend and conquer it, for we can surely do it!” (13:30)

The Ramban comments that the Meraglim presented arguments that were extremely convincing. By using the word efes (in the previous possuk) and mentioning Amalek, they were sending a clear message: no matter how rich and gebentched Eretz Yisrael was, it was out of reach. It would be impossible to conquer the land. The mention of Amalek especially brought fear into the people’s hearts. But this part of the report was misleading — Amalek wasn’t even part of the land and wasn’t a real threat. It was meant only to create pachad; to frighten and turn the people against Moshe Rabbeinu.

Calev had to stop the report and try to restore the trust of Klal Yisroel. Rashi explains that Calev was trying to get the people to listen to Moshe, to believe that it really was possible to enter Eretz Yisrael. Rashi says that when Calev said “Aloh Na’aleh,” he meant that even if Moshe told us to build ladders and climb to the heavens in order to reach the Land — we should follow him, and we would succeed.

Obviously, even with the tallest ladder, a person can’t reach the sky. But Rav Moshe Feinstein zt”l (Darash Moshe) explains that from here we learn a key to success — not only in entering Eretz Yisroel, but in Torah and in every pursuit of ruchniyus. If someone really wants something, he has to show Hashem through action that he’s serious. Even if the action itself seems meaningless, if he shows that he’s willing to do his part, Hashem will give him the siyata d’Shmaya that he needs to succeed.

The Yalkut Lekach Tov adds another beautiful idea from Rashi. Rashi specifically chose an example that seems impossible — climbing to the sky — to teach us how high our goals should be. If we want to grow, we have to aim above what seems possible.

I once heard from my rebbi, HaRav Nissan Kaplan shlit”a, a powerful p’shat in Rachel aishes Rabi Akiva: Rachel believed in her husband’s greatness only when she saw how high he aimed. He once told her that if he had the means, he would buy her a golden tiara with the image of Yerushalayim on it. They were so poor, they slept on straw — and yet she didn’t see straw, she saw vision. Rav Nissan concluded: “Most people don’t aim high enough and as a result, they sell themselves short.”

But we might ask: Shouldn’t a person be realistic? Isn’t it dangerous to chase something impossible?

The Sfas Emes, commenting on this very possuk, answers that question. He explains Rashi’s words “v’alu lisham” — “you will go there” — as a message: if we truly try, if we truly want something, Hashem will lift us to that place. Even if it’s as high as the heavens, we will get there. Hashem will take us beyond the limits of nature — and we will succeed.

And perhaps there’s another approach we can suggest:

אפס כי עז העם הישב בארץ והערים בצרות גדלת מאד וגם ילדי הענק ראינו שם- However, the nation is mighty, those who inhabit the land, and the cities are greatly fortified to the utmost, and we also saw the offspring of the giant over there.

Yes — the Meraglim saw giants. Yes — the land seemed to “devour its inhabitants.” Everything they reported looked impossible. And all of it may have been true.

But instead of focusing on where they were sent, they should have focused on Who sent them.

When Calev said “עלה נעלה וירשנו אותה כי יכול נוכל לה”, he meant it completely. There wasn’t a shred of doubt. Because if Hashem is the One sending you — how could there be any doubt? Everything they saw — the giants, the fear, the obstacles — they only exist because Hashem placed them there. Even the giants can only walk and talk because Hashem allows it.

The Meraglim mentioned Amalek, the nation that represents safek, doubt. Calev answered with the word “yachol” — we can. And more than that: “Yachol” also hints to Hakadosh Baruch Hu — the Kol Yachol, the One Who can do anything.

We now understand that even if we are told to build ladders and climb to the heavens, we would succeed because it is not our abilities but rather the ability of the Kol Yachol.

And this is a lesson for every situation in life. If Hashem wants something to happen — even if it makes no sense, even if the whole world says it’s impossible — כי יכול נוכל לה. But we have to stop looking at how big the problems are — and start looking at how big Hashem is.

Good Shabbos, מרדכי אפפעל