Moshe delivers his farewell message to the Jewish Nation and upon recapping the sin of the spies, he recalls the nation’s reaction to the report. The Torah states: “You sulked in your tents and said, ‘It is out of hatred for us that G-d brought us out of the land of Egypt, only to hand us over to the Amorites to destroy us’” (Debarim 1:27).
Hatred is a strong word. Surely the people did not actually believe that G-d hated them? How could that be? After all, it was G-d who performed great miracles taking them out of Egypt, split the sea, and destroyed the Egyptians. During their time in the desert, they enjoyed the manna and had the Clouds of Glory that protected them. Where was the hate? How then could Moshe say that the people felt G-d hated them?
Rashi explains (Debarim 1:27) that in Egypt, the Nile River made agriculture virtually automatic. The Land of Israel was a completely different story. To cultivate crops and earn a living there, one would have to work hard and depend entirely on G-d for sustenance, and especially for rain to grow the crops.
In this light we can begin to understand why the people felt hated by G-d. Imagine being told you won a dream vacation, all expenses paid, travel included, plus a cash prize. Excitedly you board the plane with your family, cash in hand, and everything seems too good to be true. When you land though, this dream vacation looks rather ordinary. You expected room service and a concierge at your beck and call. Instead it turns out you would need to do everything yourself, carry your own luggage, bring food to the room, and more. The Jewish Nation felt something similar. G-d, why are you taking us from easy to difficult? From the abundance of Egypt to having to work for a living? Why would you do this to us? You must hate us.
Clearly they were wrong. The Land of Israel would require more effort, yes, but it came with qualities that Egypt could never offer. The Gemara (Ketubot 111b) paints a picture of extraordinary abundance, and Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi (Ketubot 112a) even expresses displeasure that the land’s premium quality fruits were being sold to non-residents. Beyond the physical richness, the Gemara (Zevachim 54b) describes the Land of Israel as the most spiritually elevated place in the world. Most importantly, in working the land and depending on G-d for rain and sustenance, the nation would cultivate something Egypt never provided: a direct, daily relationship with G-d. That is not hate. That is love in its greatest form.
In truth, there are times we wish success could simply be handed to us without lifting a finger. Think about it though; would that actually be fulfilling every day of our lives? Life without effort, without the climb, becomes empty. Some of the greatest feelings a person can experience come from hard work, from trying and failing and trying again, and ultimately succeeding. That feeling is priceless. The effort we invest, with G-d’s help, is what makes the reward so meaningful.
The Jewish Nation mistook G-d’s love for hatred because the road ahead looked so much harder than expected. When the people we love are in the thick of their own struggles, they can easily fall into the same trap. The daily effort of life can be exhausting, and when things get difficult, feelings of inadequacy can take root.
The antidote is helping them see the beauty and value in their effort. We can do this by acknowledging and thanking our spouses for the hard work they put in every day, even the small things. For our children, we must celebrate their effort, not just their easy wins, and support them through their losses. Let them know that the struggle, trying, failing, and trying again, is exactly where real growth happens, and it is something to be proud of. Surround those you love with this kind of unconditional support. Plant that seed, water it, care for it, and watch how beautifully it grows.