Why Did Hashem Severely Punish the Generation of the Wilderness? Part 1

Rina asks: "Hello, I read the Parashat Beha'alotecha, and felt that Hashem deals harshly with Israel. Miriam sinned and immediately became afflicted with leprosy. When they complained there was no meat, many died, etc. Not just there, I remember with the sin of the Golden Calf, Hashem wanted to destroy Israel, and later due to the sin of the spies punished them for 40 years in the desert. Is it possible that our Father in heaven would have destroyed us in the desert after bringing us out of Egypt? I find it hard to understand Hashem's ways, because they are so true yet also so sharp and painful, and we are only human. I would appreciate any response."

Hello Rina and thank you for your question.

In previous articles we explored the perspective behind the severe rebuke in the Torah. Now we shall discuss, with Hashem's help, practical examples and strive to understand them in the proper light.

Before addressing individual cases, it's imperative to dismiss the grievous thought that Hashem would have forsaken His people in the wilderness, Heaven forbid, after all the great miracles and prophetic revelation He made for them and not for any other nation in the world. Christians and Muslims famously built their false faith on this falsehood as they ignored explicit verses in the Torah.

This is evidence that is very important to recognize, as it refutes all heretical beliefs:

"And Hashem said to Moses, You will rest with your fathers, and this people will rise and prostitute themselves with the gods of the foreigners of the land they enter. They will forsake Me and break the covenant I made with them. I will become angry with them on that day and forsake them; I will hide My face from them, and they will be consumed, and many disasters and troubles will befall them. On that day they will ask, 'Have not these disasters come upon us because our God is not with us?' And I will certainly hide My face on that day because of all their wickedness in turning to other gods. Now write down this song and teach it to the Israelites and have them sing it so that it may be a witness for Me against them. When I bring them to the land I promised them on oath, flowing with milk and honey, they will eat their fill and thrive. But they will turn to other gods and worship them, rejecting Me and breaking My covenant. And when many disasters and difficulties come upon them, this song will testify against them, because it will not be forgotten by their descendants. I know what they are disposed to do, even before I bring them into the land I promised them on oath" (Deuteronomy 31).

We see how Hashem told Moses in advance that the people would sin, and due to their sins, they would be punished with harsh afflictions. Yet, despite all this, He declares that the Torah will not be forgotten by Israel: "so that it may be a witness for Me against them".

Even after they might sin and breach their covenant with Hashem, the Torah promises an eternal promise to our people: "because it will not be forgotten by their descendants".

Hashem testifies that He chose the people of Israel forever, despite knowing their inclinations and all the sins they would eventually commit: "For I know what they are disposed to do today, even before I bring them to the land I promised them on oath".

Moses received all this through prophecy and told it to the Israelites: "Gather to me all your tribe elders and officials, so that I might recite these words in their hearing and summon them as witnesses against them, if I shall know that after my death, you will surely act corruptly and turn from the way that I commanded you, and evil will fall upon you in the last days, because you will do evil in the sight of Hashem to vex Him with your actions."

These prophecies foresee the actions of the people until the end of days. Prophetic verses like these appear throughout the Torah and the books of the prophets, indicating that even the gravest sins of the nation—or their potential to sin, if we wish to remove questions about free choice—were foreseen. Before Hashem brought the children of Israel out of Egypt, He foresaw all future generations and knew all that the Israelites would sin in the wilderness—or be capable of sinning—even in the end of days.

Despite all this, Hashem chose the people of Israel, revealed Himself to them on Mount Sinai, gave them the Torah and commandments, and promised not to destroy them under any circumstance: "Even if they are in the land of their enemies, I will not reject them or so abhor them as to destroy them completely, breaking My covenant with them. For I am Hashem, their God" (Leviticus 26:44).

Since Hashem foresees all generations, these prophecies essentially prove that the choice of the people of Israel was never conditional. Hashem, who sees all generations, cannot err in His choice of the people of Israel.

Foreknowledge of the future proves there was never any practical intention to annihilate the Israelites in the wilderness, even when technically deserving obliteration for the sin of the Golden Calf and the sin of the spies.

This is an important point to remember, as it answers all negative thoughts on this matter and serves as an absolute refutation of Christian and Islamic beliefs.

Now we will focus on individual examples.

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Miriam's Sin

Great prophets have enormous precision, whose eternal reward in the Garden of Eden is immeasurable in this world: "No eye has seen a god but You, who acts on behalf of those who wait for Him" (Isaiah 64:3).

Miriam was a great prophetess in Israel; every action of hers provided a lesson for all generations of Israel, not just one generation, but for thousands of years! It was a grave matter to challenge (even in appearance) the leadership of Moses our teacher, the greatest of the prophets and transmitter of the Torah.

Nevertheless, Hashem dealt with her mercifully. Although Miriam was punished with leprosy to teach us a lesson for generations, Hashem did not punish her forever as strict justice would demand but immediately gave Moses an opportunity to pray for her and atone for her. Miriam was punished for only seven days, and even during her punishment, she received great honor as millions of Israelites waited in her honor: "and the people did not proceed until Miriam was brought in" (Numbers 12:15).

Her punishment served to atone for her sin so she could return to her previous state of prophecy and holiness. Not only did Hashem not abandon her, but the entire people of Israel waited for Miriam until she was healed, returned to her health and holiness—only then did the Israelites continue on their path in the wilderness. Thus, Hashem regarded Miriam as a beloved daughter, aiming to benefit and atone her soul.

Moreover, Miriam's atonement became tremendous merit for all generations, as through it the Israelites learned the severity of lashon hara, even when uttered with pure intentions by a prophetess like Moses' sister. This lesson is one of the "Ten Remembrances" people must remember every day, a timeless merit for Miriam the prophetess.

In the next and final article of this series, we will discuss the sin of the Golden Calf and the sin of the spies, and reveal the presence of mercy in the generation of the wilderness.