Shlach: ain mazal l'Yisrael

Kaleiv tried to rally the people and stem the tidee of sentiment rapidly turning against the idea of journeying to Eretz Yisrael. He boldly declared, "Aloh na'aleh," we can go up an conquer the land (13:30). Why does the Torah use the expression "go up and conquer" instead of simply saying "we can conquer"? Rashi explains that Kaleiv was hinting that even if they had to climb ladders to the heavens to take the land, they would be successful.

Maharal explains that the exaggeration of "climbing to heaven" is not to be taken literally, but hints at a more subtle message. Even if the forces in heaven which seem to control human destiny, the laws of nature, stand in opposition to the conquest of the Land by the Jewish people, that conquest will still be successful. "Ain mazal l'Yisrael" (Shabbos 156) -- the fate of the Jewish people transcends control by earthly and heavenly forces and rests in G-d's hands alone.

Even if appearances lead one to believe that there is no chance of success, "ain mazal l'Yisrael" -- G-d alone, not those obstacles, determines a Jew's destiny.