From Point to Point of View
Understanding the Meraglim’s Mistake
The story of the Meraglim has long been an enigma to me. To break it down simply: Moshe, under Hashem's directive, sent the Meraglim into Eretz Yisrael to, for all intents and purposes, spy out the land. They returned from their mission, gave a full report, and the people felt it was too much. Yehoshua and Kalev tried to reframe what they said, but they were not listened to. In fact, they were almost stoned to death for their words. In the end, everyone was punished and not allowed to enter Eretz Yisrael, with the exception of Yehoshua and Kalev.
They acted based on what they believed was their mission from Hashem. Why were they punished? Where did they go wrong? How were their actions different from those of Yehoshua and Kalev?
Legendary producer Rick Rubin has written a fantastic book, The Creative Act: A Way of Being, which I recommend to anyone on a journey of growth. One powerful idea he explores is the difference between sharing your point of view and making a point. He writes:
"A point is an idea intentionally expressed. A point of view is the perspective through which the work emerges. Our point of view doesn't have to be coherent, and it's rarely simple. We may have different, and sometimes contradictory, points of view across a variety of topics. Aiming to narrow it all down to one elegant expression is unrealistic and limiting. Whatever our perspective, so long as we share it, unaltered and undoctored, we succeed in art's fundamental purpose... We don't need to make a point of making a point; it will appear when it appears. The true point is already made in the innocent act of perception and creation."
The Meraglim felt compelled to make a point, while Kalev countered, "No! It's just a point of view." Hashem sent the Meraglim to Eretz Yisrael for their point of view, not to give them the chance to make a point. Yehoshua and Kalev initially shared their point of view, only emphasizing it into a point when the people began to squirm over their co-Meraglim’s report. This is what we call a counterpoint. It's not about making the point, but about refuting the point that was made with a counterargument based on your point of view.
How often in our daily interactions do we insist on making our point instead of simply sharing our point of view and letting the point reveal itself naturally? I know I am guilty of this.
One lesson from the episode of the Meraglim is to focus on whether we are expressing our point of view—our perspective, our way of seeing things—or if we're trying to make a point. The difference is subtle, yet the implications and consequences are massive.
As Rick Rubin writes,"We don't need to make a point of making a point." This was the Meraglim's failure. They missed the essence of their mission by focusing on making a point instead of just sharing their point of view. In our own lives, let's strive to share our views honestly and openly, allowing the truth to naturally emerge from our expressions.
Love this so much
This was awesome and the lesson from Rick Rubin is appreciated.