For the Jewish people, tradition answers with a resounding name: Michael.
But it's not always a simple story of unwavering support. Our relationship with Michael, the archangel, is...complicated.
Michael isn't just any angel; he's considered Israel's patron angel. He's our advocate, our celestial defender. The Midrash Ribesh Tov speaks of Michael’s role in this way. Imagine having an angel whose specific job is to watch over and protect the entire nation!
The story goes that Michael, in his role as advocate, once sang Israel's praises before God, commending our loyalty. But that caught the attention of a certain someone – you know, the Accuser, Satan.
And Satan, never one to miss an opportunity, challenged Michael, declaring he could strip away the holiness that had been entrusted to Israel. And tragically, according to this tale, he succeeded. Through sin and strife, through internal division and external pressures, Satan managed to snatch away that precious holiness. The Temple was destroyed. The people were sent into exile. A devastating blow.
And here's the really painful part: the angel Michael, our patron, actually led us into exile. Talk about feeling abandoned!
It’s a harsh image, isn’t it? To be led into exile by the very angel who was supposed to protect you. It raises so many questions. Did we fail? Did Michael give up on us?
But the story doesn't end there. There’s a crucial element of hope woven into this narrative.
The promise is that a day will come when it will be proven that Israel didn't intentionally surrender her trust. That despite the missteps, the betrayals, the moments of weakness, deep down, the commitment to God remained. And on that day, Israel will regain the favor of her patron angel, Michael.
Think about that for a moment. What does it mean to "regain the favor" of an angel? It speaks to a restoration of a relationship, a mending of a broken bond. Perhaps it suggests a time when divine favor is visibly restored to the Jewish people. Some might even say it's intertwined with the coming of the Messiah.
This idea of nations having their own guardian angels is an ancient one. We find it echoed in other traditions as well. It suggests a cosmic order, where each nation has a celestial representative, an advocate in the heavenly court. But what makes this particular myth so compelling is the vulnerability it exposes. It's not a story of guaranteed, unconditional protection. It's a story of relationship, of trust, and of the potential for both loss and redemption. As we see in other traditions, sometimes God is seen as Israel's guardian, while all other nations have angels as their guardians.
So, what does this mean for us today? Perhaps it's a call to examine our own actions, both individually and collectively. Are we living in a way that honors the trust that has been placed in us? Are we striving to embody the holiness that Satan sought to steal away? Or are we, God forbid, perpetuating the strife that led to the exile in the first place?
The story of Michael, our patron angel, is a reminder that even in the darkest of times, hope remains. The possibility of regaining favor, of restoring relationship, is always there. It requires work, yes. It demands introspection and a commitment to living a more righteous life. But the reward – the unwavering support of our celestial advocate – is a prize worth striving for.