Rabbi Zweig explores what it means to 'fight God' through the lens of the conquest of Canaan, examining how humanity's misunderstanding of divine intermediaries leads to the illusion that we can battle separate powers rather than recognizing everything as manifestations of Hashem (ה׳)'s unity.
This shiur addresses a fundamental question that emerges from the conquest narratives: what does it mean for people to 'fight God,' and why aren't such people simply dismissed as insane? Rabbi Zweig examines three historical instances where people 'warred against God': the Tower of Babel, Pharaoh's resistance to the Exodus, and the Canaanite kings who united against Joshua and the Jewish people. The shiur explores why these conflicts required miraculous divine intervention, particularly the suspension of the sun and moon, and the phenomenon of stones falling from heaven. The analysis begins with the Rambam (רמב"ם)'s explanation of how idol worship developed. Originally, all people recognized that Hashem (ה׳) created the world, but they believed they needed to approach God through intermediaries - celestial bodies and spiritual powers that served as a hierarchy between humanity and the divine. This evolved into worship of the intermediaries themselves, and eventually into the belief that these powers could be fought and dominated by human beings. Rabbi Zweig explains that there is truth to the concept of divine intermediaries - the Torah (תורה) speaks of celestial officers (sarim) over nations, astrological forces (mazalot), and various spiritual powers through which God operates. However, the critical error lies in believing that God has actually delegated independent power to these forces. This misunderstanding leads people to think they can fight these 'separate' powers, which is actually fighting God Himself. The key insight is demonstrated through the concept of 'shnei hafuchim b'nosei echad' - contradictory forces coexisting in one entity. Fire and water, for example, are absolute opposites, yet they can coexist (as seen in the hailstones of Egypt that contained both fire and ice). This is only possible if both are not independent powers but manifestations of God's unity. If God had truly delegated separate powers to different forces, such contradictions could not coexist. The miraculous suspension of the sun and moon during Joshua's battle serves to demonstrate that even the most fundamental forces of nature are not independent powers but direct manifestations of divine will. The sun doesn't have its own power to give light - it's Hashem working through the sun. This is why the Midrash describes this miracle not as God overpowering nature, but as a pre-established condition (tanai) that nature would respond to divine will. The shiur connects this to the concept of shira (song), explaining that the ten songs in Jewish tradition represent moments when we perceive the direct relationship between God and creation, without intermediaries. The word 'yashar' (straight/direct) in these songs indicates this unmediated connection. Rabbi Zweig draws a parallel to the war against Amalek, where the sun was also suspended. Amalek represents the philosophy of chance (mikrah) - the belief that some aspects of existence are separate from divine providence. This is why Haman, Amalek's descendant, cast lots (purim (פורים)). The fight against Amalek is fundamentally about rejecting the notion that anything exists independently of divine will. The practical application extends to modern phenomena like gambling addiction, which Rabbi Zweig identifies as more than just a financial problem. The compulsive gambler seeks the feeling of dominating fate and chance - essentially believing they can control forces separate from God. This represents a fundamental misunderstanding of divine providence and unity. The shiur concludes by clarifying that while spiritual intermediaries do exist (such as the sarim of nations and astrological influences), they are not independent powers but extensions of divine will - like an extended arm of God rather than separate entities. The Jewish people's relationship to these forces differs from other nations, as Jews can overcome even astrological influences through intense prayer, accessing the source directly rather than being subject to the intermediary powers.
An introduction to the first chapter of Ramchal's Derech HaShem, covering six fundamental principles about God's nature and existence, including the difference between emunah (internalization) and yedi'ah (knowledge).
An introductory class to studying the Ramchal's Derech Hashem, covering the author's life, his major works (Mesilat Yesharim, Derech Hashem, Da'at Tevunot), and the philosophical foundations that will guide the series.
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