You can’t hide from truth.  You can choose to ignore it, perhaps try to induce others to believe differently, you might fight it, run away from it, or even try to prove it wrong, but the truth is the truth.  We human beings were given the power of choice, up to a point.  We may laugh at this week’s parashah because of the seemingly comical talking donkey.  Yet, the donkey ultimately had the last laugh because she was correct, and more than this, she saw the truth and tried to protect her master.  She was so loyal, she saved Balaam three times and each time he beat her for it.  She could have done what he wanted, which would have meant certain death for him, and freedom for her.

        The donkey knew the truth was “standing right in front of Balaam”.  The truth was literally staring him in the face, though he chose not to see it.  I’m getting ahead of myself, so let’s back up to the beginning of our parashah.

        The king of Moab, named Balak, saw the Israelites approaching his city.  Balak knew about their escape from Egypt, and of the miracles Adonai made happen on their behalf.  We are even told in the Torah - in clear language - Balak knew the Israelites were now a nation, and a nation blessed by Adonai (Numbers 22:10).  Now up until this point, Balak had no reason to be afraid The Nation of Israel would attack Moab.  The same words spoken by the Pharaoh of Egypt, “they have become too numerous”, were used by Balak to rile up his people.

        If the leader of a given group of people gives the people a reason to be afraid, they usually become so.  A lesson on the power contained in words is one of many we learn this week.  Balak then acts similarly to evil people who like to pretend to themselves the people are blind to certain truths.  He went to another nation to “keep his hands clean,” and riled them up to do his dirty work. 

        Balak went to the elders of Midian.  Midian is where Zipporah, the wife of Moses, is from.  Her father, who was a Midianite leader - one we may presume has died by this time - respected Moses and Adonai.  Even without Jethro leading the Midianites, surely they would have no reason to fear the Israelites.  Well, no reason save maybe jealousy.

        Balak not only riled up the Midianites to do his bidding, but he also urged them to strike the Israelites first.  He knew Moses was a prophet, so he sent the Midianite elders to procure the services of another prophet, Balaam.  Balaam didn’t jump at the chance; instead, he told the elders he would need to consult Adonai, and even then, would only curse the Israelites if Adonai let him.  Balaam told the elders the truth immediately, and then after Adonai told Balaam the Israelites were blessed and Balaam would not be allowed to curse them, he conveyed this to the elders the next day.  Again, the truth was crystal clear.   When the elders of Midian conveyed this to Balak, similar to Pharaoh, Balak was stubborn in his resolve.  He didn’t like the truth, so he was going to do what he could to change it.

        Balaam, however, wasn’t completely innocent and pious, as he talked money with the elders when he sent them on their way.  A pious person knows he/she must do what is right in the eyes of G-d.  A truly pious person cannot be bought.  One of many truths that baffles an evil person.  Balak knew if Balaam spoke of money, he could be bought, so he sent another round of messengers to Balaam.  Interestingly, the first group were called nobles by Balaam.  The second group, we are told, held even higher rank, yet Balaam referred to them as servants of Balak. 

        Not only does this also indicate Balaam was in negotiations, but also that Balaam’s ego was taking over, and how he simply saw “dollar signs”.  He already was given an answer from G-d, yet due to his greed, he had the audacity and ignorance to ask again and think he could change the proverbial mind of G-d!  From the answer he received the second time, “Go if you want to, but you will not be able to curse the Israelites”, we learn Adonai indeed allows us free will.  Balaam, who was full of greed, was stupid enough to go this time, although he indeed warned the messengers he would not be able to curse the Israelites if Adonai wouldn’t let him.

        Sometimes, many times, we are sent angels to encourage us to see and understand the truth, and not to waste our time fighting it, or the consequences we will suffer will be great.  These angels come in many forms.  Adonai sent an angel to stop Balak, but he refused to see the sign.  His donkey usually served him well, yet three times refused to go on.  Rather than seeing this for what it was, a sign he was going to attempt something he would later regret, he saw the stubbornness of the donkey as an annoyance he felt was attempting to impede his journey to get what he wanted.  After hitting the donkey for the third time, he even saw the angel for himself.  The angel relayed a warning to him, yet still, Balaam’s greed was blinding him.  In the end, we know Balaam blessed Israel each of the three times he attempted to curse Israel.

        Balak, who thought of himself as powerful - and apparently he thought he was more powerful then Adonai(!) - was told the truth by the first group of messengers.  Wait:  even before they told him, he knew the truth about the Israelites being chosen by G-d as a holy people, he knew what happened in Egypt, and of all of the miracles, yet he still chose to stupidly try to demonstrate his superiority over G-d.  Balak too, wanted what he wanted, and refused to see the truth right in front of him.  After the first attempt he had Balaam make to curse the Israelites, he still was emboldened to try to get his way.  Like a petulant child who doesn’t get what he/she wants, he got angry and yelled. 

        When I said we have freedom of choice to a point, this should be clear to you now.  What G-d wants to happen will happen.  We may choose to pay attention to the signs we are sent, we may stubbornly keep trying to attain what we desire, but if it isn’t the will of G-d, it won’t happen.  What usually happens is too many people get hurt until the one forging forth either quits trying or dies.

        There are several not-so-subtle lessons I want you to take from this story.  Through out history, many, many, many rulers and individuals have tried to wipe the Jewish people off of the earth.  We’re still here.  Despite the proof of our existence being evidence of our being a chosen people, others still try.  Why?  We were chosen to lead the world to the light of G-d, the love of G-d for all creation, and to teach the laws Adonai gave to mankind in the Torah.  Laws which concern, ironically enough, treating each other with kindness, love, and justice and fairness.

        Let us not ignore the fact Balak sought Adonai’s blessing to curse the Israelites.  It’s so moronic, it would be laughable if he was the only one who thought it would work.  What he did was convince others this would work.  It didn’t then, and it won’t now.  Recognize this behavior?  Learn from history and stop wasting your time trying to destroy.  Spend your time in peaceful pursuits.  I am far from the only one who sees this truth.  Remember the Wiki Leaks not so long ago.  Remember well how your evil isn’t even sanctioned by those who you thought were your allies.  Enough said.

        You may choose to open your eyes and see what is in front of you.  I truly hope my words are helping to repair the world.  Words’ power is rivaled only by music’s.  You can reach someone’s heart and soul through words.  With words we pray and praise, and with words we can cause others enormous pain.  Words may even drive people to violence.  Words have made careers, and words have ruined careers.  Words are the gift Adonai gave the world when the Israelites, through Moses, were given the Torahs on Mt. Sinai.  Maybe we were told the one who saved and spoke to Balaam, while on his way to curse the Nation of Israel, is to teach us it was the supposed ass who knew the truth, and the one the ass spoke to may not have looked like an ass on the outside, but in point of fact, Balaam was the true ass.  (If you are reading this in another language, the words “donkey” and “ass” are interchangeable.) 

        In support of what I just wrote, I offer this to you to think about:    Why did Balaam trust Balak to pay him if he couldn’t curse Israel?  Balaam knew he wouldn’t be able to curse Israel when he went with the messengers to supposedly do just that.  Balaam knew Balak was evil, or at the very least, had evil intentions.  People who intentionally choose to harm others for their own supposed gain cannot be trusted. . . ever.  Yet people still foolishly think they are the exception to the rule, and the evil person will do right by them.  It just won’t happen.  In the short term, it may, because the evil person still has plans for you; but once they don’t, well...

        Another lesson I wish to clarify for you is this:  if you do what is right, fair, and good, your mundane life won’t automatically become easy.  Serving Adonai in truth and love will bring rewards, though in Judaism, we teach not to worry or think about what those rewards are, as what you do, who you are, and how you act and speak in this modern world matters.  What will happen when you follow this truth is your soul will rest easier, you can live with yourself, and others will respect you.

        When you think you know what it is you should be trying to achieve, by all means, keep trying.  Just pay attention to the obstacles you perceive - they could be signs from angels trying to tell you something.  They also might be tests for you, so pay attention, pray, and you will receive answers.

        Shabbat Shalom!  I’d love to know what you think!