Balak
Numbers 22:2-25:9
Micah 5:6-6:8
As we trek through the desert along with the Israelites, the book of Numbers provides us with list after list of laws and rules. Most of our parashahs value ethics and education over humor. However, this week we find some comic relief. However, it’s still Torah — and beyond the amusing mental images is a lesson for each one of us.
Parashat Balak begins with Bilaam, a local sorcerer, sent by the King of Moab to curse the Israelites. Initially, Bilaam refuses the task. Something in his gut is telling him not to speak this curse. The king sends more powerful messengers to convince Bilaam to curse the Israelites. Bilaam pleads with God, and eventually, God approves: “If these men have come to invite you, you may go with them” (Numbers 22:20). Bilaam rises early to go with his donkey to curse the Israelites.
But of course, God was always on the Israelites’ side. As Bilaam goes on his way, his donkey spooks. The donkey can see, quite clearly, a threatening angel carrying a sword. The donkey tries to heed the warning and turn around, but because the angel appears only to the donkey, Bilaam assumes that his previously loyal work animal is being insubordinate. So Bilaam beats the donkey and forges ahead.
But again, the donkey spooks and tries to turn the other way. Bilaam again beats the donkey and forges ahead. The same thing happens yet again, a third time.
Then comes the comedic moment: The donkey tries a new tactic. She speaks. “Bilaam,” the donkey says in earnest, “why do you keep hitting me?”
We can only assume that Bilaam is dumbfounded by his donkey’s new ability. And yet, instead of appearing flabbergasted, as we would be if our cat or dog or gerbil began a conversation, Bilaam just answers.
“Donkey,” Bilaam says, “I keep hitting you because you’re not doing what I ask. And to tell you the truth, Donkey, if I had a sword right now, I’d kill you!”
The donkey just looks at Bilaam. She begins to reason. “Bilaam. I’ve been your donkey for years. Have I ever acted this way before? Don’t you think that if I’m acting odd, if I’m not listening, if I’m — you know — speaking … there must be a reason?”
All of a sudden, Bilaam’s eyes are opened. He can see the angel looming with sword in hand, and he realizes the donkey is not the problem. He is. He hasn’t been paying attention.
In a drash for G-dcast (www.g-dcast.com/balak), Rabbi Andy Shapiro Katz explains that the donkey represents Bilaam’s inner truth. When Bilaam finally hears the donkey and notices the angel, what he really hears is that his own inner voice has no curses to offer. Bilaam is not following a talking donkey; he is following his instinct. He finds that buried deeply in his subconscious is God’s presence.
Despite this important self reflection, Bilaam still tries once more to follow the king’s orders. When he opens his mouth to curse the Israelites, he inadvertently speaks these well-known words of blessing: “How beautiful are your tents, Jacob, and your dwelling places, Israel!” (Numbers 24:5)
It is commonly understood that God is working through Bilaam, forcing his tongue to bless instead of curse. We can also understand that this blessing is Bilaam expressing the Divine presence that resides deeply within him. This voice is the Godliness that he first felt when he initially rejected the proposal, but that he buried deeply when he listened to the powerful messengers, and second-guessed God’s instructions.
The lesson is not exactly comedy, but it does bring relief: We learn from Bilaam that each one of us has this Godliness contained within ourselves, too.
Each one of us is a dwelling place for God’s presence. It is easy for us, too, to get distracted by the powerful messengers in our midst. These outside influences cause us to put ourselves down, to second-guess our God-given gut instincts. For lack of a better way to say it, we all encounter people and ideas that make it difficult to hear our inner donkey.
This is our curse. But when we listen, we allow ourselves to hear the holy that is already within us. When we open our eyes to the unexpected, we too can see the blessing.
Rabbi Sara Mason-Barkin is an associate rabbi and educator at Peninsula Temple Beth El in San Mateo. She can be reached at [email protected].