The Torah parsha reading for this week is “Shalach Lekha,” (Numbers chapters 13 through 15) — “send out men” –8:1-12:16), and it is the infamous story of ‘the spies.’

Mark Call of Shabbat Shalom Mesa fellowship begins with the Erev Shabbat reading:

And once again, and ESPECIALLY now, events in the world again set the stage for the midrash this week. Mark relates that he believes the title was given to him just this morning, in two suggestions:

The ‘twelve spies’ who went into the land in Numbers chapter 13 brought back an ‘evil report,’ and literally all of the congregation of the children of Israel suffered for it. What they really did, says the witness of Scripture, was to “despise” Yahuah Himself.

Today’s spies have the ear of world leaders, including the President of the United States. At least 51 knowingly lied to the American people, participated in an attempted (and at least temporarily successful) coup, and arguably STILL despise the God of the Bible.

And that is the part that remains so clearly evident today as well. The question remains the same , too: Who will we believe?

The combined two-part reading and Sabbath midrash: