Parashat Balak- Noticing the Miraculous Around Us

Vateireh ha’aton et malach A-donai nitzav baderech v’harbo shlufa b’yado vteit ha’aton min haderech… vayach Bilam et ha’aton…. Vateireh ha’aton et malach A-donai vatilaheitz el hakir… vayosef l’hakotah…. Vateireh ha’aton et malach A-donai vatirbatz tachat Bilam… vayach et ha’aton bamakeil. Vyiftach A-donai et pee ha’aton vatomer l’Bilam meh asiti l’cha ki hikitani zeh shalosh r’galim…. Vatomer ha’aton el Bilam halo anochi atoncha asher rachavta alai mei’odcha ad hayom hazeh hahaskein hiskanti la’asot l’cha ko Vayomer lo. Va’y’gal A-donai et einei Bilam…

And the donkey saw the angel of God standing in the way and his sword drawn in his hand and the donkey turned from the way… and Bilam struck the donkey…. And the donkey saw the angel of God and she thrust herself against the wall and again he struck her…. And the donkey saw the angel of God and she lay down under Bilam…and he struck the donkey with his staff. And God opened the donkey’s mouth and she said to Bilam, “What have I done to you that you hit me three times?” … And the donkey said to Bilam, “Aren’t I your donkey upon whom you have ridden all your life until today? Have I ever done such to you?” And he said, “No.” And God opened Bilam’s eyes (Excerpts from B’midbar 23-31)

The story of Bilam and his donkey is a fascinating one. Bilam, a supposed prophet, cannot see something directly in front of him. He cannot see a thing that even his donkey has the sense to avoid. To her the angel of God is clearly visible. She sees its form. She sees its weapon. She sees its intent, and, caring about Bilam, the master whom she has served for his whole life, she seeks to avoid the danger to Bilam. At first she merely tries to turn him aside, but is thanked with a blow. The second time she thrusts herself into a wall, trying to force her way away from the danger. Again the thanks comes as a punishment. The third time she merely sits down, refusing to be part of this charade any longer. And once again Bilam strikes her. Even when God first opens her mouth, Bilam is not immediately struck by the miraculous nature of this experience. Only when forced to confront the truth of the situation does he finally acknowledge the strangeness of her behaviour and suddenly recognize the danger before him. Only when forced to think upon a question in order to answer are Bilam’s eyes finally opened.  Even then, they are opened by God. Bilam, even confronted with a miracle, refuses to open his eyes to what stands directly before him.

How often do we in our everyday lives manage to ignore the miraculous around us? We see the rain, but do we see the rainbow or the beautiful colour of the stormy sky? We see the mud, but do we see the joy and wonder on the muddy child’s face? We see the traffic slow-down caused by a fire truck or ambulance, but do we see the heroism of those inside? The story of Bilam and his donkey is odd, and in that sense we may never fully comprehend it. However, it is also a story of miracles, wonder, and heroism, and that is something about which we can always use reminding.