Parashat Balak

Two Paths to the Divine: The Contrasting Legacies of Abraham and Bilam

In Parashat Balak, the text establishes Bilam as an extraordinary figure whose prophecy is uniquely included in the Torah alongside Moses' words. The sages compare Bilam's greatness to Moses himself, noting that while no prophet like Moses arose in Israel, among the nations Bilam did arise with comparable spiritual powers. His prophecy contains profound visions reaching to the end of days, including the famous words "A star shall go forth from Jacob." As a gentile prophet with a direct connection to God, Bilam represents something rare - someone who reached an understanding of God through his own contemplation, similar to Job and Yitro.

Despite his spiritual greatness, the sages portray Bilam as fundamentally flawed due to his self-centered nature. In Pirkei Avot, there is a contrast between Bilam's disciples (characterized by "an envious eye, an ambitious spirit, and an arrogant soul") and Abraham's disciples (who have "a generous eye, a modest spirit, and a humble soul"). This self-centeredness permeates even Bilam's prophetic language, where his grandiose expressions reveal an "ambitious spirit" focused on material wealth and honor. The text argues that this represents more than a character flaw - it's a problem of essence that undermines his spiritual achievements.

The core distinction between Bilam and Abraham lies in their fundamental approach to seeking God and their responses to divine challenges. While philosophers like Bilam start with the world and ask "how could there be a God?", faithful seekers like Abraham start with God and ask "how could there be a world?" When faced with seemingly contradictory divine commands, Abraham demonstrates complete trust and willingness to sacrifice everything - even his understanding and emotional well-being - while Bilam remains focused on his own interests. This difference is illustrated through Abraham's willingness to proceed with the Akeda despite it destroying his entire worldview, embodying the principle of trusting in God even when faced with the incomprehensible

Questions to Contemplate

The story of Bilam challenges us to examine not just what we achieve spiritually, but how we approach the divine journey itself. True self-reflection requires confronting the uncomfortable possibility that even our highest attainments might be built on flawed foundations.

In my own spiritual or intellectual seeking, do I start from a place of humble service ("There is God, how then should I understand the world?") or from a place of self-centered inquiry ("There is my world, how might God fit into it?")

What does it mean that someone can achieve great spiritual heights and prophetic vision while still being fundamentally flawed in character, and how might this apply to my own achievements and blind spots?