A Lesson from the Wicked Prophet Bilaam

Who was Bilaam? Moses was the greatest Jewish prophet that ever will live. Even the Messiah will only be close in prophecy to that of Moses but not surpass the prophecy Moses. Moses did not receive his prophetic messages through vision or while asleep. Rather as the Torah says he spoke to G_D as one man would speak to another. Although no other Jewish prophet received such a high level there was one Non-Jew who did receive a very high level of Prophecy. This was the wicked Balaam.

Why is Bilaam called Wicked? Why then do I refer to him as “the wicked”? Why did G_D give prophecy to him? The sages teach us that the nations of the world could have a complaint that the Jews reached such high levels because they had a prophet like Moses. They could claim that if we would have had also a prophet of stature we likewise would have been able to become a nation that serves G_D like the Jews. Therefore G_D gave them a prophet of high stature and yet we see even he himself used it for wickedness, as we will discuss G_D willing.

Bilaam The Best of the Nations Then Rav Asher Rubbenstien Shlita comments on this that we must conclude that Billam was chosen because he was from the best of the nations at that time. If G_D had chosen just an ordinary person off the street that would not remove the compliant of the nations, since they would not have respected him enough to claim that they should have learned from him.

The Students of Abraham and of Bilaam As we see from the story of Bilaam, found in Numbers chapters 22-24, he used this G_D given gift for personal gain. The sages compare the students of Abraham to those of Bilaam. Those who learn form the Patriarch Abraham learn to be happy with their lot not coveting the possessions and wealth of others.

They go in the way of humility and are careful not to over indulge in the physical pleasures of this world.

While Billam was the exact opposite of this. He and those who follow his example are not happy with their lot as large as it may be. The King Balak hired Bilaam to curse the Jewish people. G_D originally told him no to since we are a blessed people. Bilaam persisted under the pressure of personal gains of wealth and honor. So G_D said go but you may only speak what I put in your mouth.

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