Yesterday we spoke about a pasuk in Parashat Ekev that says, “ If you say in your heart, Rabim Goyim HaEleh Mimeni/These Goyim are more numerous than us,” simply speaking, this is a problem. That's how Rav Moshe Feinstein explains it, because, and this is the point we're going to discuss at length, for Hashem, there is no difference between a lot and a little when it comes to saving us in a time of problem. That's a fundamental line that he says we have to work on ourselves to understand. That’s why, right after that, it says, “ Don't be afraid. Remember what happened in Mitzrayim,” and realize Hashem doesn't need numbers. The source for this in the Navi, is when Shaul and the Jewish people were at war. Yonatan was with his lad and said, “ Why should we wait for everyone else to fight? We'll do it on our own.” Why? Because, “ There's nothing that holds Hashem back from saving, with a lot or a little.” God doesn’t need a lot. If He can do it with a hundred thousand, He can do it with two. And if you can't do it with two, you can't do it with a hundred thousand either, because it's not about numbers. When Yonatan tells his lad this, he adds, “Let's look for a sign, if it's the right thing to do. We're going to show ourselves out from the hiding, and if the people that see us say, ‘Va’alinu/ Come up,’ then we know we should go up, because God put us in their hands; that will be a sign.” This word Va’alinu/Come up only shows up one other time, says the Baal HaTurim , right after the sin of the spies, when the Jewish people changed their minds. They said, “ We're going.” They got up and they say, “ We're going to go up. Va’alinu..” And Moshe says, “ Don't go up. You're going against the word of Hashem. It won’t be successful. God's not with you. You're going to be wiped out.” And they were. The Baal HaTurim says that the reason the word Va’alinu was used by Yonatan was to tell us that 600,000 people would not be successful, and two people would. Because when God wants it to happen, it will happen with two, and when Hashem doesn't want it to happen, it won't happen, even with 600,000. The commentaries cite another story in the Navi, Shoftim (perek ז )when Gidon decides to go to war. There were tens of thousands of people and Hashem told Gidon, “ Too many people ,” Why was that a problem? The Jewish people would become proud and say, it was our hand. We did it .” God then told him to make the famous announcement that whoever was afraid should leave. 22,000 people went home and there were 10,000 left. Hashem then told Gidon to make a test- to go to a stream and have them bend down for water to see how they drank the water (Did they bend on their knees, did they lick it) The people that licked it like a dog licks the water would be only the ones that would go. Only 300 out of 10,000 people did it that way. Hashem then said, “ Now we're ready to go, with these 300.” Why? So that they wouldn’t make the mistake of thinking that they needed a lot of people. When I was researching this topic, God guided me to a Midrash Raba on Esther ( (ח,ז that describes how Esther was praying. It says she was scared. She took off her royal clothing and wore sackcloth, she put ashes on her head and she fasted and prayed. She starts off saying, “ Hashem, You were the King from the beginning of the time. You're the Creator. Help Your maid servant. I'm a yitoma/orphan with no father or mother, I'm begging You.” She continues, “ Save Your sheep from the enemy.” While another person might say, ‘ I’m only one lady, what can I do?’ she uses the same words that Yonatan used when he won the war. She tells Hashem, “ There’s nothing that holds Hashem back from saving…Please help me, give me mercy.” In the end, of course, she finds favor in the eyes of Ahashverosh. It’s part of the lesson of Purim that God works in hiding, and we have to understand this principle, that it doesn't make a difference if there's there a lot or a little. Have a wonderful day.