B"H
Wednesday, Tammuz 14, 5782 / July 13, 2022
In this week’s Parsha, Balak, we find the famous Biblical story of the donkey chatting with Bila’am. Balak, King of Moab, called on Bila’am to curse the Jewish people so that he could wage war against them and, “drive them away from the land.”
First G-d came to Bila’am in a dream and told him not to go. Later, seeing that Bila’am wanted so much to go, G-d allowed him to go, but warned him not to curse the Jewish people.
The Torah tells us that when Bila’am heard that G-d gave him permission to go, although he had many servants, he saddled his donkey himelf to go to Balak. On the way, an angel blocked his way. The donkey, who saw the angel, turned away from the road, walked through a narrow path, crushing Bila’am’s foot against a stone wall. Bila’am, who didn’t see the angel, ended up hitting his donkey three times. At that point the donkey opened its mouth and reprimanded Bila’am for hitting it.
Q. From whom did the nation of Moab, who wanted to destroy the nation of Israel, descend?
A. They were descendants of Lot, who was Abraham’s nephew and brother-in-law. Lot’s life was saved twice because of Abraham. The first time was when he was captured by the Four Kings and Abraham waged war against them, liberating Lot. The second time was when G-d destroyed the cities of Sodom and Gemorrah. Lot, who lived in Sodom, was saved by the angels in Abraham’s merit. Yet, his descendants wanted to destroy the Jewish people.
Q. Which great Jewish personality descended from Balak, King of Moab?
A. King David was a descendant of Ruth, who descended from Balak, King of Moab.
Q. What happened to Bila’am in the end?
A. Bila’am was killed in the war against the people of Midyan.
Q. In what way is there a connection between the story of Bila’am going to curse the Jews and the story of Abraham who took his son, Isaac, to the altar?
A. The Torah in this Parsha tells us that when Bila’am got up in the morning to saddle his donkey with the intention to go and curse the Jewish people, G-d said, “Their forefather, Abraham, has preceded you. When I tested Abraham by commanding him to bring his son, Isaac as a sacrifice, he didn’t hesitate. He got up early in the morning and saddled his donkey himself to fulfill My commandment, even though it meant going to sacrifice his beloved son, Isaac. That merit will stand for his children, and I will not allow you to curse them.”
In the end, no matter how much he tried, G-d put words of blessings and Bila’am blessed the Jewish people again and again. From this story we learn that our efforts and good deeds benefit our descendants. No good deed goes to waste or unnoticed.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY & SUCCESSFUL DAY