While the spies sinned terribly, they were still able to detach the question of the richness of the land from the issue of whether it was conquerable. In the long run, this meant that they left the people the possibility of repenting.
At the outset of Parashat Shelach Lekha, God tells Moshe to send spies to the land of Israel. A comparison to the account in Devarim teaches us that this was preceded by a request by the people to this effect. If so, God's endorsement of the plan requires explanation. One possibility is that God simply gave permission for the people to send the spies. If they wish to endanger themselves, and fall into cowardice out of lack of belief, God will not withhold their freewill.
Another possibility is that, within the problematic situation that was created, God's endorsement of the plan has positive content. Seforno suggests the following: God told Moshe to send leaders of the people as spies. The purpose of this was to guarantee that the spies would be able to appreciate the land for what it was. Not everyone would be able to appreciate the land. Indeed, despite their dreadful failure, the spies successfully conveyed a positive impression of the land, its natural resources and riches. Their lack of trust in God caused their courage to fail them, and they delivered an unsolicited evaluation of whether the land could be conquered at all. However, the fact that the spies were truthful in their account of the richness of the land made ultimate repentance a real possibility for the people. As soon as they became aware of their sin in losing faith in God, the people repented, and expressed a wish to enter. Had simpler people been chosen, they might have been unable to appreciate the natural beauty of the land, and the people as a whole would never have changed course.
We may suggest a variation of the Seforno's idea. Were simpler people chosen, they may not have given a positive report of the land, not because of their inability to appreciate it, but because of the common inability to see reality independently of one's evaluation of it. Often, one who has a strong opinion concerning a given issue is unable to present it, or even see it, in a fair way. People are affected by their evaluations, and are often unable to appreciate reality in a neutral manner. It is a sign of greatness to be able to view, a situation positively, and yet present a negative evaluation of it. While the spies sinned terribly, they were still able to detach the question of the richness of the land from the issue of whether it was conquerable. In the long run, this meant that they left the people the possibility of repenting.
Were God to have left the sending of the spies to the people, they might have entrusted this responsibility to the hands of populists who would not care to give an honest description of the land. The spies would have let their personal opinions take hold completely of their report. The people would not have been able to extricate themselves from their state of spiritual cowardice, because they would have seen the evil report as a full evaluation of the situation. Since the report was indeed honest, they were able to regain their courage and their faith.
This shows us how important it is to be honest towards oneself. Even when one sins, due to a weak heart and lack of faith, an honest appreciation of the situation makes repentance an easier task. When, however, one lets one's emotions overpower one's understanding of the situation, repentance necessitates a complete reevaluation of one's experiences.
Courtesy of Yeshivat Har Etzion - www.etzion.org.il