And what of the land they inhabit? Is it good or bad? And what of the cities in which they reside are they in camps or in fortifications? (Numbers 13:19)
The Kotzker Rebbe expounds that the intent of Moses' instructions to the twelve spies he sent to see the Promised Land is: Moses requested that the spies report the goodness of the Land. The Land of Israel is good – even if "is bad" – that is, she appears to be bad; for the sanctity of the Land is subject to divine concealment. Any Jew who wishes to find the goodness of the Land will indeed find it.
Therefore:
The Land is good, even if you (the spies) find her bad; "And what is the soil like is it fat or lean?" [verse 20]; she is good, even if you find her bad, she is fat, even if you find her lean. The Land cannot be properly seen by vision alone, it requires depth (i.e. deep perception). For this reason, Moses instructed his spies "You shall be courageous." [ibid.] In the Land of Israel one must have courage, and not allow his spirits to falter.
In a similar manner, the Kotzker Rebbe cites the Sages' teaching that "the Land of Israel lacks nothing," raising the question how that statement can be accepted literally. The Rebbe quotes the explanation of Rebbe Zusha of Anipoli of Rashi's comment on the verse "(these were) the years of the life of Sarah" – "all of them were equally good." [Genesis 23:1]; Rebbe Zusha raises the same question: how can it be said anyone's life that all their years were equally good? Rebbe Zusha's explanation is that "Sarah, in her righteousness, accepted whatever happened to her with love, and she considered all of her years to be good."
We can understand the Sages' comment that the Land of Israel lacks nothing in a similar manner, namely:
One who dwells in the Land of Israel and loves the Land will be lacking nothing, for his love of the Land will overcome any of her shortcomings.

(by David Magence)
Shabbat Shalom!
The Va’ad