ו' תמוז התשע"א 7/8/2011 4 B&W - 4 Articles Issue 770 Dedicated to the memory of the souls of Mazal & Tzvi Amir, G-d bless their souls The Weekly Parasha By: Hammaayan Institutes Why did G-d inspire the evil, idolatrous Bal’am with the spirit of His Divine Presence and the power of prophecy? Chazal have answered that G-d did not want to allow idolatrous gentiles the opportunity to claim that, if they also had a prophet like Moshe, then they would have behaved ethically. Therefore, G-d gave them prophets as well, and Bal’am was the archetype. In this way, their potential claim would be tested and effectively neutralized. Like Bal’am, these prophets led the idolatrous gentiles away from G-d. Formerly, they were careful to avoid incest and adultery, and even guarded themselves against the opportunities, which might lead to transgression of these sins. However, Bal’am advised them to turn their daughters loose and to send them to prostitution. It is not surprising that western culture seems to be marked by an influence that works against the values and integrity of the family. The evil Bal’am already infused the poison into the cradle of western culture. Nevertheless, it would seem that giving them prophets like Bal’am has not really neutralized the potential claim of the goyim. They could say that G-d gave them prophets who did not do their jobs, who did not abjure them and rebuke them to go in the way of truth and righteousness. If G-d had given them prophets who were better than Bal’am, prophets like Moshe, then they could claim that they would have behaved ethically. They had just heard the words of G-d. They had just heard, through the medium of true prophecy, that they themselves sought that a supernatural leader is leading Israel. They already knew from the time of the splitting of the sea: “The nobility of Edom were frightened, the mighty men of Moab were seized with fear...” (Exodus 15:15). That is why they sought for Bal’am, for some supernatural way to overcome the rising tide of Israel. But when the prophet that they sought explains to them that their quest is in vain, and anyone who oppose The moment that Bal’am finishes his prophecy not only those who heard him do not pay attention, but also Bal’am himself does not hear! Their behavior is like that of a child, and their behavior refutes any claim that, if they had been given a better prophet, then they would have acted differently. There is, moreover, a deeper comprehension concerning their mistaken claim that, if they had been given better prophets, they would have behaved ethically. These nations thought that knowing the truth is sufficient, that the truth does not require dedicated, practical application. Their claim is imbedded in the mistaken idea that, if they had only known the truth, then they would have behaved differently. They knew the truth, but they did not act upon it; they did not allow the truth to change them. This deep lesson brings to mind a famous statement of the Gaon of Vilna about the meeting of Shimon Hatzadik with Alexander and Aristotle. The Gaon said that Shimon Hatzadik could have brought down the sun and moon and all the hosts of heaven and made them stand upon a table in front of Aristotle. However, it would not have influenced that rasha one iota to change his ways. There is no easy formula or instantaneous pill to make a person change his ways. It can only be done with hard, continuous work. And if a person falls, then he has to get up again. These are the reasons Chazal said that G-d created the evil inclination, and He created an antidote for it - the Torah. To comprehend the Torah is like comprehending a vast, living, complicated being. It is not easily “swallowable” bytes of clear-cut, closed knowledge. A person must work and struggle with it, over a long period of time, in order to get a hold upon it. Therefore, only the Torah is a match and an antidote to the evil inclination. 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