It’s a question that bubbles up from time to time, and our sages, bless their memory, certainly pondered it. What did the other nations make of that earth-shattering event?
Well, Sifrei Devarim 343 gives us a fascinating glimpse into that very moment, a midrashic peek behind the curtain, if you will.
The text paints a vivid picture: "When the Holy One Blessed be He appeared to give Torah to Israel, He 'thundered' the entire world on its inhabitants." Imagine that. The sheer, raw power of that moment wasn’t just contained within the Israelite camp; it reverberated across the entire globe. The earth shook, the heavens roared, and everyone felt it.
As it says in Psalms 29:3, "The voice of the L-rd upon the waters; the G-d of glory thunders." This wasn't just a gentle rumble; it was a cosmic announcement.
So, what did the nations do? According to Sifrei Devarim, they panicked. They ran to Bilam. Yes, that Bilam, the prophet hired to curse Israel, but who, through divine intervention, ended up blessing them instead (Numbers 22-24). They gathered around him, terrified, and exclaimed, "It seems that G-d is going to destroy His world!"
Can you imagine the fear? The absolute dread that must have gripped them? They assumed the worst, that this cataclysmic event was the beginning of the end.
But Bilam, for all his flaws, knew a thing or two about prophecy. He reassured them, saying, "Is it not already written (Bereshit 9:15) 'And the waters will no more be a deluge to destroy all flesh'?" In other words, God had promised never to destroy the world with a flood again, so this couldn't be that.
But still, they were puzzled, they pressed him: "What is this sound?"
Here's where it gets really interesting. Bilam, perhaps inadvertently, reveals a profound truth. He answers, quoting Psalms 29:11, "The L-rd is giving oz to His people." Oz, meaning strength, power, and might. But, Bilam explains, in this context, oz is nothing other than Torah, as it is written in Iyyov (Job) 12:16, "With Him there is oz and might."
The Torah, then, isn't just a set of laws and stories; it's a source of divine strength, a conduit of God's power into the world. It’s the very foundation upon which the world stands!
And the nations? Their reaction is perhaps the most surprising part of the story. Upon hearing this explanation, they responded: "If so, 'let the L-rd bless His people with peace!'" (Psalms 29:11).
Think about that for a moment. The very nations who might have been our enemies, upon realizing that the thunderous sound was the giving of the Torah to the Jewish people, offered a blessing of peace.
It’s a powerful reminder that even in moments of fear and misunderstanding, there is the potential for recognition, respect, and even blessing. Perhaps they sensed, on some level, that the Torah, while given specifically to the Jewish people, ultimately holds the potential to bring peace and blessing to the entire world.
What does it mean for us today? Maybe it's a call to remember the awesome responsibility that comes with receiving the Torah, and the potential it has to illuminate not just our lives, but the lives of all those around us. The world heard the thunder, and even in their fear, they recognized something profound was happening. May we live up to that potential, and may we all be blessed with peace.