Q&A: We Have No One to Rely On Except Our Father in Heaven
We Have No One to Rely On Except Our Father in Heaven
Question
Hello,
In light of the developments between Ukraine and Russia, in which among other things it seems that the world has more or less abandoned Ukraine, I keep encountering statements identical or conceptually similar to the one in the title (“We have no one to rely on except our Father in Heaven”).
I understand that sentence to mean that salvation will not come from anyone else (any country or people), but from the Holy One, blessed be He. I find it hard to agree with that statement (as I understand it) when looking at what the Jewish people have gone through (such as the Holocaust). Even if you say that God’s ways are hidden, who says they will not remain hidden in the future as well (so that it will be hard to find the good in what happens)?
Is there a Torah-based explanation for why providence is not really observable in the events that have happened to our people?
Thank you.
Answer
I have a simple explanation for that. There is no providence, so there is nothing to observe. I have explained this in several places here on the site. Search for discussions about providence (active providence).
The salvations that the Holy One, blessed be He, has provided us are not especially impressive. So at least from an empirical point of view, if I were going to rely on someone, the last one I would rely on would be our Father in Heaven.