Parsha Corner: Balak – Inspiration
In this week’s parsha, the Torah tells us about the remarkable episode where Hashem opens the mouth of Bilam’s donkey. The donkey turns to Bilam and says,
“What have I done to you that you hit me these three times?”
Bilam, instead of reacting with shock or awe at the miracle of an animal speaking, answers back,
“You have made a mockery of me! If I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you.”
Rabbeinu Bachya comments that any normal person would be overwhelmed by the miracle. A talking donkey? That’s not something you see every day. One would immediately recognize it as a divine sign. But Bilam, due to his corrupt and crooked nature, wasn’t moved at all. He converses with the donkey as if nothing unusual happened.
The Baalei Mussar explain that Bilam wasn’t blind or stupid—he was fully capable of being inspired. But he chose to remain numb. He knew that if he allowed himself to feel the awe of the moment, it might shake him from his evil mission against Klal Yisrael. So instead of embracing the inspiration, he shut it down. He deliberately dulled himself to the miracle in order to protect his agenda.
This leads us to a broader idea that Chazal teach: A rasha—a wicked person—is compared to a dead man. One reason offered is that he doesn’t bless Hashem for the daily miracles of life, such as the rising of the sun. But this comparison is puzzling. Not thanking Hashem is certainly wrong—but how does that make a person like the dead?
The Baalei Mussar explain with a sharp insight. What defines someone who is dead? That they no longer enjoy the pleasures of this world. Similarly, someone who refuses to acknowledge Hashem and express gratitude for life’s blessings doesn’t truly enjoy them either.
But wait—doesn’t that seem a bit far-fetched? Plenty of people live without thanking Hashem and still enjoy food, nature, family, success. The answer is deeper: the rasha senses that if he were to fully enjoy the pleasures of life, he would have no choice but to confront their Source. If I enjoy a beautiful sunset, I might feel compelled to thank the Creator who made it. And if I thank the Creator, I must admit that He runs the world. And if He runs the world, then I must take His Torah seriously.
That level of commitment is something the rasha isn’t ready for. So what does he do? He short-circuits the entire process. He numbs himself. Just like Bilam closed himself off from the miracle of the donkey, the rasha closes himself off from the full depth of the pleasure around him—because feeling it fully would force him to change.
And so, he becomes like a dead man. Not physically—but spiritually. Emotionally. He stops truly living, because to live fully is to feel gratitude, to be open to inspiration, and to allow truth to shape our lives.
May we take this lesson to heart—to allow ourselves to be moved, to be inspired, and to truly live with awareness and gratitude.
Have a wonderful Shabbos!
Rabbi Anton
786-250-7601
Download the PDF -> Balak