Let's dive into a story from Devarim Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic teachings on the Book of Deuteronomy, that really brings this to life.

The story picks up right after the Exodus. Imagine the scene: The Israelites have just walked out of Egypt, witnessed incredible miracles, and word is spreading like wildfire. As Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman tells us, the nations around them are terrified. "May dread and fear fall over them," the Torah says in Exodus 15:16. They’re whispering, wondering just how mighty this new nation is.

Then comes the showdown with Siḥon and Og, two formidable Emorite kings. The Emorites are buzzing with questions. “As you live,” they ask each other, “are these Israelites mighty or not? How many nations are they?” They hear that this group seeking war is made up of "three nations" – Priests, Levites, and Israelites. Now, Siḥon and Og aren’t exactly quaking in their boots. Three nations? "Let's arm ourselves and go out against them and we will kill them!" they declare. We see this defiant attitude reflected in the verse from Deuteronomy 2:32: "Siḥon went out to war toward us."

So, Moses and the Israelites arrive near Edre’i. Moses suggests they camp for the night and enter the city in the morning. But then, something extraordinary happens. It's still dark, the eye can barely see, and Moses looks up.

What does he see? According to the story, he sees Og sitting on the city wall, his feet touching the ground! Moses is bewildered. "I don’t know what I’m seeing," he says. "Did they build another wall at night?" He actually thinks Og is part of the wall!

That’s when the Holy One, blessed be He, intervenes. "Moses," He says, "what you see is Og." Rabbi Yoḥanan adds that Og's legs alone were eighteen cubits long! Can you imagine the sheer size of this guy? No wonder Moses was afraid!

But God reassures him: "Fear not, as I will topple him before you." We find this reassurance in Numbers 21:34: "The Lord said to Moses: Do not fear him."

Now comes the truly incredible part. Og, in his immense arrogance, uproots a mountain and hurls it at Israel! Think about that for a moment. A whole mountain! But Moses, guided by faith, takes a seemingly insignificant pebble, intones the ineffable Name of God (the Shem HaMeforash), and the pebble intercepts the mountain, stopping it in its tracks.

The story concludes with a fascinating twist. The Israelites, witnessing this incredible defense, exclaim: "Cursed are the hands that cast in that way!" – referring to Og’s destructive power. But the Emorites, equally impressed, declare: "Blessed are the hands that intercept in that way!" – praising Moses and the Israelites for their protection.

What does this all mean? Well, this passage from Devarim Rabbah teaches us several things. It highlights the fear and awe that the Israelites inspired after the Exodus. More importantly, it shows us that even when faced with seemingly insurmountable challenges – like a giant hurling mountains – faith and divine assistance can prevail. And it reminds us that even our enemies can recognize and appreciate acts of courage and righteousness.

It's a powerful reminder that even when we feel small and vulnerable, we have access to a strength that's far greater than ourselves. And sometimes, even those who oppose us can recognize the good in our actions. A pretty incredible thought, isn't it?