The Secret of Divine Providence from the Six Days of Creation: The Seventy Nations and the Divine Plan
Class No. 196 | Sunday, Parashas Behaaloscha, 8 Sivan 5759 - Class at the Shadarim Kollel, Central Synagogue, Morasha Neighborhood (Continued in No. 197, end of side A)
The class reveals the spiritual root of the seventy nations, their desires, and the power of Lashon HaKodesh (the Holy Tongue) to subdue them. Through contemplating Divine Providence, it is explained how all events in the world—including the rise of wicked kings and the years of destruction—are planned in advance from the Six Days of Creation, which grants absolute tranquility and trust in Hashem's leadership.
All the languages of the nations have a grip of impurity, and they fall before Lashon HaKodesh. Lashon HaKodesh is the only language that contains absolutely no impurity, and it only sanctifies a person. When a person speaks in foreign languages, it can bring a spirit of impurity upon him, since every nation has its own evil that clings to its words. But when one speaks in Lashon HaKodesh and recites Tehillim (Psalms), all the evil of the seventy nations is nullified.
This evil encompasses all desires, which are like seventy bonfires of fire. Every desire of the seventy nations is a bonfire in and of itself, and every delay of the Geulah (Redemption) stems from those seventy stars and seventy bonfires. How do we extinguish this fire? Through the study of Torah. The Torah opens all the pathways and provides the advice on how to extinguish these seventy bonfires.
Every Nation Has Its Role
Every single nation has its own traits, mandates, and essence. There are nations that are meticulous about order and guarding against theft, such as in Denmark, where a person can leave a suitcase at the train station, return later, and still find it. Every nation has the things for which it is willing to have mesirus nefesh (self-sacrifice), and every nation has its own unique trials.
In order to succeed in serving Hashem and to merit Siyata Dishmaya (Heavenly assistance), the first thing one must work on is guarding the covenant (purity) and guarding the eyes. All the troubles, punishments, and harsh decrees that happen to us come because of a blemish in the covenant. Therefore, one must be extremely meticulous about holiness, not looking in forbidden places, and not engaging in excessive conversation where it is unnecessary. When Jews sit and study Torah for eight consecutive hours, in the merit of this, they bring the entire Jewish people back in teshuvah (repentance). Through Torah study and holiness, there will be no need for causes of sorrow and no need for fasts; rather, everything will be transformed for the good and for mercy.
Everything Is Planned in Advance from the Six Days of Creation
We must know that all events in the world are planned in advance. Hashem, may He be blessed, crowns kings for every nation even before the creation of the world. Before Hashem created the world, He already established the exact order until the end of the sixth millennium and into the seventh millennium. Everything is calculated, as is brought down in the holy books, in the Maor VaShemesh and in other sources, regarding the calculations of the years of the Geulah (Redemption).
Every year, it is planned in advance who will be the king, who will be elected, and who will win. Everything is planned even before the creation of the world. Therefore, even when it seems that there are troubles, or when governments arise that enact harsh decrees against Judaism and against those who study Torah, one must know that everything is part of a Divine plan. We must deal with this through prayers, mesirus nefesh (self-sacrifice), and strengthening ourselves in Torah study, in order to sweeten the decrees and pass through these years in peace.
The Hint to the Years of Destruction in the Word "Bereishis"
Even the most wicked kings who arise in the world, everything is planned from the Six Days of Creation. Hashem, may He be blessed, prepared all the possible pathways. Even if there will be the Sin of the Golden Calf, and even if there will be the Erev Rav (mixed multitude), there is an exact pathway for every situation.
Even the years of destruction and the terrible Holocaust are already hinted at in the very first word of the Torah. The word "Bereishis" (In the beginning) conceals within it the hint to the difficult years: Tav-Shin (5700), Tav-Shin-Aleph (5701), Tav-Shin-Beis (5702). Everything is included in the word "Bereishis," because there is absolutely no coincidence in the world. Even when Hitler, may his name be erased, arose and did what he did, everything was part of the Divine plan from the Six Days of Creation.
King David's Joy in Divine Providence
From this understanding, we can comprehend the words of King David at the end of chapter 4 in Tehillim. King David says:
"You have put joy in my heart, more than when their grain and new wine abound. In peace I will both lie down and sleep, for You, Hashem, alone make me dwell in safety."
Seemingly, when the wicked succeed and "their grain and new wine abound," it should arouse sorrow. But King David says the exact opposite: Specifically when I see that the wicked are succeeding exactly according to the plan, I am even more confident in Hashem's Divine Providence. If everything is proceeding exactly as Hashem decreed, then there is absolutely no mistake in the leadership of the world.
Therefore, King David concludes: "In peace I will both lie down and sleep." I can sleep peacefully and be assured, because everything is under the Throne of Glory, and we will yet merit to see the good things and the complete Geulah (Redemption).
Part 2 of 2 — Class No. 196
All parts: Part 1 | Part 2 (current)