If only we saw ourselves as agents of Hashem, we’d act differently
Why does this pasuk repeat that they went when the previous pasuk already told us they returned?
Rashi says this shows that their return was the same as their leaving — both were with evil intent. Yet earlier (13:3), Rashi says that the Meraglim were “anashim,” important and righteous people. Which is it?
The Maharal answers this seeming contradiction by explaining that in essence the Meraglim were good people. However, they accepted a job as shalichim, agents for Klal Yisrael, and Klal Yisrael didn’t have good intentions.
In many halachic situations, we state that a person’s messenger is like the person himself. It’s more than a physical status; it’s a spiritual connection in which the agent is influenced by the intentions of those who send him. (Rabbi Reisman, Shiurim al Chumash)
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