Balak: perspective

Balak: perspective

Is not Balak justified in his fear that Israel will conquer his land?  From his perspective, they have just vanquished two of the most powerful armies in the region and smitten their heroes: Sichon and Og. Those Jews are too powerful and they control the media. Is this justified xeno- aversion or is it antisemitism?  Is it a matter of perspective?

When Bilam travels to his job with Balak, the donkey sees the threatening, obstructing, Satanic angel, but, at first, Bilam does not.  It is the lowly, humble point of view of the ass  that sees the danger; Bilam's haughtiness needs to broken by pain before The Seer can see what is right in front of him. Perspective.

When Bilam praises and blesses the Israelites he has been hired to curse, Balak takes him to different viewpoints.  Seen through a different lens, praise can become damnation.  The Jews are smart - they cheat; they keep to themselves - they are clannish,  they support liberal causes - they are Communists;  They are rich - they control Wall Street.

But Bilam is a medium for Gd's truth, and it is expressed as praise for the Hebrews. We all know it could have been otherwise.  More than once Gd offered to destroy the People and build Moses into a nation.  But that is only for internal consumption, to our enemies, Gd wears the mask of love. Perspective.