It's not always as simple as a direct hand from above. Sometimes, there's a cosmic chess game happening behind the scenes.
Devarim Rabbah, in its very first section, opens with a powerful idea, connecting the verse "See, I have begun" from Deuteronomy to a verse in Psalms (149:8): "To bind their kings with fetters." But who exactly are these "kings?" According to this Midrash, they aren't just earthly rulers.
The text explains that "their kings" are actually the kings of the idolaters, the earthly representatives of nations. "And their nobles with iron chains?" Those, says the Midrash, are the guardian angels of those nations, the celestial beings responsible for their fate. The idea is this: God doesn't punish a nation without first punishing its guardian angel.
Think of it like this: a nation's actions are, in a way, reflected in its spiritual representation. So, before meting out justice on Earth, there's a reckoning in the heavens.
How does this work? The Rabbis in the Midrash offer an example: the story of the Exodus. The Holy One, blessed be He, didn't just drown Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea. First, He subdued Egypt's guardian angel. How do we know? The Midrash points to the verse in Exodus (15:1), which doesn’t say "horses and their riders," but "the horse and its rider." The singular form, “its rider,” is interpreted as referring to Egypt’s guardian angel.
Rabbi Yitzḥak takes it further, pointing to Exodus 14:10, "Behold, Egypt was traveling after them." He suggests that "Egypt" here isn't just the physical army, but also its guardian angel, pursuing Israel from the skies. Imagine the Israelites looking up and seeing not just chariots on the horizon, but also a powerful angelic being looming above them.
This sets the stage for understanding the victories to come. When Siḥon and Og, those formidable kings, sought to confront Israel, God told Moses, "See, I have begun delivering before you." (Deuteronomy 2:31) The Midrash understands this as God saying, "See, I have already toppled their guardian angel!" The victory on Earth was preordained by a victory in the heavenly realms.
What does this tell us? Perhaps it's a reminder that there's more to reality than what we see. That our struggles and triumphs are part of a larger, cosmic drama. And that even the mightiest earthly powers are ultimately subject to a higher power, acting through subtle and sometimes unseen forces.
So, the next time you read about a historical event, or even experience a personal challenge, remember the guardian angels. Remember that sometimes, the real battle is happening somewhere else entirely.