Lead Tidbit
Phase 1, for Then & Now
The Book of D'varim, as is well-known, is the farewell address of Moshe Rabeinu to the "new" generation, who will soon be crossing the Jordan into Eretz Yisrael. Moshe Rabeinu will be saying many things to the people - he will review their brief but colorful history; he will review the mitzvot with them; he will present the reasons for their existence as a Nation and the challenges that lie ahead of them.

Phase 1, so to speak, of his address is Parshat D'varim. He focuses on three things - The Sin of the Spies, the leadership of the People, and the battles they have already had, as well as the ones to come. In essence, this is what he tells them... and this is what he tells us.

The first mistake of the Meraglim episode was their thinking that they were sent to scout out the land in order to decide whether to go there or not. Big mistake. G-d had said to Moshe, at the very first "conversation" between them, that He was taking the People out of Egypt in order to bring them to a good and expansive land, a land flowing with milk and honey... This was a given. This was non-negotiable. The Meraglim said, thanks but no thanks.
Moshe Rabeinu has to make it very clear that notwithstanding the previous generation's panic and fear, the people of Israel will cross the Jordan, they will prevail over all obstacles and difficulties that they would encounter. That they have solid leadership in the form of Yehoshua and the Sanhedrin of elders, who are commanded and encouraged not to be afraid. And that the people too must not fear, because G-d will fight with them and for them.
The successes the people had were meant to demonstrate that G-d really does fight on their side, so to speak.

Moshe spoke to the "new" generation 3276 years ago, and to us, today.