Standing Strong |
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Balak
Numbers 22:2– 25:9 Micah 5:6– 6:8 Acts 4:1– 22 Revelation 2:12-17 |
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Isaiah 11:6 2 Thessalonians 2:15 |
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How many times have you ever wondered what it would be like to talk to the animals? Have you ever thought how much of a difference one letter makes? Do you have the passion of Pinchas? Has the Torah been changed at any time? Each of these items will be addressed this week.
When you have an open Parasha study, where everyone is invited, you never know what you are going to get into. This is one of the exciting things each week. Items that have gone by for years without being discovered can suddenly pop up and create a whole new way of looking at things.
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I am certain that most people have thought at one point or the other how much fun it would be to talk with the animals and find out what they really think. Balaam had this opportunity in this weeks reading. Balak, in fear of the large tribe of Israelites now on his borders, has called in a sorcerer who also worships the one G-d of the universe. Balak realizes that to fight Israel with the sword has failed with other kingdoms prior to his and he expects he would lose such a fight. He realizes that the Israelites have the word of G-d with them.
Rather than fight them with the sword he will fight them with the word. One letter difference changed the playing ground of this battle. He calls in a sorcerer who is known for his incantations and has a reputation of those he blesses being blessed and those he curses as being cursed. That's right, Balaam was a sorcerer for hire and when he went to Balak, it appears he was seeking the riches promised to him. G-d had said not to go, and Balaam listened and sent the men away, but when a larger, more prestigious delegation showed up promising even more riches, Balaam was eager to go.
He sought G-d's word on what to do a second time on the same issue. This time G-d said to go IF the men came to call on him. The next verse tells us that Balaam got up early, saddled his donkey, and went. He didn't wait to have the men call on him as G-d had said. He went against what G-d said to do, and his donkey ended up saving his life.
There are those who believe animals get to see into the spiritual world. This thought makes me cringe. I know there are battles going on around me. Jerusalem must be a giant battle ground with Satan always trying to keep it from being re-established as the place of the holy temple of G-d's chosen people. I can only imagine what our dog must see. Balaam's donkey saw the angel sent to stop Balaam and three times the donkey keeps Balaam safe. Balaam responds by beating the animal because he is unaware of the angel sent to stop him. And now the animal speaks to him.
Balaam must have been very mad at being delayed on the way to what he thought was a big paycheck, because he doesn't even realize the wonderment of the donkey speaking to him! He argues back with the animal! Obviously emotions had to have the better of him for him to not even be shocked at what was happening.
G-d gets Balaam back on track and has him continue to Balak with the instructions that Balaam can only say what he is told to say by G-d. Balaam must have gotten the message that if G-d can control a donkey to the point of the donkey speaking , surely he can control Balaam if he doesn't say only what he is told.
The story goes on. Balaam is so impressed with what he sees as he looks upon Israel and the righteousness of the people following G-d, gathering in prayer and doing things as G-d said to do. He blesses Israel three times! Israel's obeying and doing as G-d said, and being a people set apart provided their safety.
It is in the blessing of Israel that our group ran into the question of whether the Torah has been changed and if so, why.
The Masoretic text states in Numbers 24:5-7 "How lovely are your tents O Jacob! Your dwellings O Israel! Like valleys that stretch out, Like gardens by the riverside, Like aloes planted by the L-rd, Like cedars beside the waters, He shall pour water from his buckets and his seed shall be in many waters…." The Septuagint, written over 300 years earlier and verified as accurate by over 70 of the greatest rabbis of the time states, "How goodly are thy habitations, Jacob, and thy tents Israel! As shady groves, and as gardens by a river, and as tents which G-d pitched and as cedars by the waters. There shall come a man out of his seed and he shall rule over many nations…."
Whoa, that sentence in bold font is not even close to the corresponding verse of the Masoretic text. What is this about "...a man out of his seed" ruling over many nations? Who is this, and why does the text not match at all with the later writing? This question will have to be pondered by each reader as to what is going on to create such a difference. It appears that a prophecy has been removed.
After Balaam blesses Israel, he moves on and heads back home. But the attempt to destroy Israel has not stopped. Israel remained where they were and Balak appears to have sent women to mingle with the men of Israel and introduce the worship of the false G-d, Ba'al of Peor. And while the enemy outside the camp is unable to do harm, the enemy within the camp causes great harm.
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