The spies caused a blemish in the Divine Name A-donai, which is the source of G-d's governance through the natural order. Therefore, Moses prayed:
“And now, may the power of A-donai be magnified.”
Regarding the verse (Numbers 14:17),
“And now, may the power of A-donai be magnified, as You have spoken...”
we must understand:
Since Moses wished to arouse Divine mercy, why did he invoke “the power of A-donai,” a Name associated with Divine judgment and the governance of nature?
What is the significance of this prayer, and why did Moses not make the same request after the sin of the Golden Calf?
The Zohar comments on this verse:
“Fortunate are Israel among the nations of the world, for the Holy One, blessed be He, desires them, is called by them, and glorifies Himself through them...”
This too requires explanation.
What is the novelty in saying:
“Fortunate are Israel among the nations of the world”?
And why is this teaching connected specifically to this verse?
Explanation
The spies' sin consisted of their claim that:
“Even the Master of the house cannot remove His vessels from there.”
They acknowledged that G-d is the “Master of the house” and that the nations are merely His “vessels.”
Their error was not a denial of G-d's authority. Rather, they argued that once the Jewish people operate within the framework of nature, G-d desires that the world function according to the natural order and not through open miracles.
Therefore, they claimed that, according to G-d's own chosen system of nature,
“He cannot remove His vessels from there.”
In other words, they believed that the natural order itself imposed limits on how G-d would act within the world.
The truth, however, is that G-d is all-powerful and entirely unrestricted.
Since the spies' error involved the Divine Name A-donai, which is the source of G-d's governance through nature, Moses specifically prayed:
“May the power of A-donai be magnified.”
His prayer was that the Divine power invested within nature itself should be revealed as unlimited, demonstrating that even the natural order is completely subject to G-d's will.
The Meaning of the Zohar
The Zohar's statement:
“Fortunate are Israel among the nations of the world”
means more than simply that the Jewish people possess special virtues.
Its deeper meaning is that even when the unique greatness of the Jewish people is concealed beneath the veil of nature, the truth remains:
“Fortunate are Israel.”
Their essential bond with G-d is never diminished.
The spies looked at reality through the lens of nature and concluded that the obstacles were too great.
Moses' prayer and the Zohar's teaching reveal the opposite perspective: even within nature, the Jewish people remain G-d's chosen nation, and the Divine power governing nature is itself limitless.
Thus, the connection to this verse is precise. The verse speaks of magnifying the power of the Divine Name associated with nature, while the Zohar teaches that even when holiness appears hidden within natural circumstances, the intrinsic greatness of Israel and G-d's relationship with them remain fully intact.