And it's one the ancient Israelites knew all too well. They faced enemies on all sides, both seen and unseen. So, what did they do? They turned to prayer.
One powerful verse, traditionally recited when the aron hakodesh, the Holy Ark, was carried into battle, offers a glimpse into their mindset: "Stand, O L-rd, and let Your foes be scattered." It's a plea, a hope, a declaration of faith. But let's unpack it a little.
The Sifrei Bamidbar, an ancient collection of legal and ethical teachings related to the Book of Numbers, delves into this verse, revealing layers of meaning. Who are these "foes" that we're asking G-d to scatter? The Sifrei clarifies: these are those "who are massed to attack us." It's not just about personal enemies, but about those who gather together to destroy us, to destroy the people of Israel. And those "haters" who are in pursuit? May they flee before You, it says. The hope is that through divine intervention, they will flee, and we, the Israelites, "will not be destroyed by them."
But there’s a condition, isn’t there always? The Sifrei doesn’t shy away from it: "When Your face is with us, we will not flee before them, and if not, we will fall before them." It’s a stark reminder of the reciprocal relationship between G-d and the people. The "face" of G-d, in this context, isn’t a literal face, of course. It represents divine presence, divine favor, divine protection.
We see this idea echoed throughout the Torah. Remember Moses' plea in Exodus (Shemot) 33:15? "If Your 'face' does not go, do not bring us up from here." Moses understood that without G-d's presence guiding them, their journey was doomed. And just a verse later (33:16): "For how, otherwise, will it be known that I and Your people have found favor in Your eyes?" The presence of G-d is the ultimate sign of divine favor.
Think about the story in Joshua 10:11. "And it was, when they fled before Israel, they were on the descent of Beth Choron, when the L-rd cast upon them great stones..." It's a vivid image of divine intervention. The enemies of Israel are fleeing, and G-d Himself is hurling stones from the heavens to aid in their defeat.
The Psalms, too, resonate with this theme. Psalm 83:14-15 cries out, "My G-d, make them like whirling chaff, like stubble before the wind, like a fire burning mountains." It's a powerful image of destruction, of enemies being scattered and consumed.
What does it all mean? It's more than just a simple prayer for victory. It's an acknowledgement of our dependence on something greater than ourselves. It's a recognition that our strength, our safety, our very survival, is intertwined with our relationship with the Divine. It is a bold reminder that when we feel overwhelmed, facing impossible odds, we can turn to the Source of all strength and ask: "Stand, O L-rd, and let Your foes be scattered." And trusting that when we do, we are not alone.