It's easy to get caught up in the moment, to think that the way things are now is how they'll always be. But Jewish tradition encourages us to look deeper, to see the hand of something greater at work, even in times of hardship.
The book of Devarim (Deuteronomy), specifically chapter 32, verse 22, includes the phrase "and there is no understanding in them." But what does that mean? Sifrei Devarim, a collection of ancient legal and ethical teachings on Deuteronomy, unpacks this verse in a fascinating way. It suggests that this "lack of understanding" refers to an inability, or perhaps unwillingness, of the nations to recognize the divine orchestration behind their victories and Israel's defeats.
Imagine this: "Last night," the Sifrei Devarim posits, "one of us pursued a thousand of the nations, and two, ten thousand; and now one of them pursues a thousand of us; and two of them, ten thousand of us! (This could not have happened) if their Rock had not delivered them." In other words, the text highlights a missed opportunity for reflection. A moment where the nations could have recognized that their triumphs over Israel weren't solely due to their own strength, but rather a consequence of God's will.
Rabbi Nechemiah offers another perspective. He says that the nations have "lost the seven mitzvot" — the seven Noahide Laws, the basic ethical commandments given to all humanity. This loss of ethical grounding, perhaps, blinds them to the deeper meaning of events.
The Sifrei Devarim continues, suggesting a future reversal: "Now one of us pursues a thousand; and two, ten thousand. But in the days of the Messiah, one of Israel will pursue a thousand of us; and two, ten thousand." It’s a prophecy and a challenge. Will we be able to recognize the hand of God when fortunes shift? Will we remember the lessons of history?
The text then offers a powerful anecdote, a story set in Roman-occupied Yehudah. Picture this: a decurio, a Roman commander in charge of ten horsemen, is chasing a Jew, intent on killing him. Yet, he can't catch him. Then, a serpent appears, winding itself around the Jew's ankle, but, miraculously, doing him no harm! The Jew, calm amidst the chaos, tells a bystander to deliver a message to the Roman commander: "Do not say to yourself 'We are strong and they are weak.' (But say to yourself: This [our subjugation of the Jews] could not have happened) 'if their Rock had not sold them, and the L-rd had not delivered them' (into our hands)."
What a powerful scene! It’s a recognition that even in moments of apparent defeat, there's a deeper truth at play. The serpent, a symbol often associated with danger, becomes a sign – a reminder that things aren't always as they seem. The Jew's message is clear: don't mistake temporary dominance for inherent superiority. Don't forget that everything is ultimately in God's hands.
So, what does this ancient text tell us today? It encourages us to cultivate a sense of humility and perspective. To recognize that history isn't just a series of random events, but a complex tapestry woven with divine threads. To look beyond the surface, and to see the hand of God even in the most challenging of circumstances. And perhaps most importantly, to remember that true understanding comes not from power, but from recognizing the source of all power.