Do you ever find yourself talking to one friend or family member about another friend or family member? More often than not, it seems, people use these opportunities to compare themselves or to express criticism of others. Sometimes, the person sharing doesn't even realize that words they are saying about the other are really a reflection of their own self image or their own transference. The remarkable thing is, however, it takes no less energy and creates a very different impression when the words shared are ones of compliment and blessing.
Such is the lesson of this week's Torah portion in which we read the story of Bilaam, the prophet enlisted by Balak, the king of Moab, to curse the Israelites. Having heard from the neighboring Emorites and Bashanites of how they were conquered by the Israelites, Balak is worried that his nation would be the next to fall. He sends messengers to the Bilaam in the Land of Midian, hoping to convince Bilaam to act on his behalf to curse Israel. God tells Bilaam that God himself has blessed Israel, and therefore he tells Bilaam that he is not to curse Israel, whom God has blessed. So, Bilaam says no.
But, the story does not end there. Determined, Balak approaches Bilaam again and again until finally, Balak makes Bilaam an offer he cannot refuse. God permits Bilaam to go. Along the journey, Bilaam's donkey stops and refuses to move. The donkey sees what Bilaam is unable to see, an angel blocking the way. A conversation results between man and donkey (this is one only two talking animals in the Bible and surely the subject for another message, another time), Bilaam strikes the donkey; the donkey questions why after which Bilaam accuses the donkey of mocking him...
Finally, however, Bilaam reaches his destination. Opening his mouth to say words of curse, Bilaam instead blesses Israel using words that we know from our morning service: "Mah tovu ohaleicha Israel – How good are your tents, Jacob, your dwelling places Israel. Like valleys they spread out, like gardens beside a river, like aloes planted by the LORD, like cedars beside the waters. Water will flow from their buckets; their seed will have abundant water... They shall devour enemy nations, crush their bones, and smash their arrows... Blessed are they who bless you, accursed they who curse you!"(Numbers 24:5-9)
So, how are we really to understand Bilaam's act of blessing and what can we learn about our own journey to find blessings in those around us?
Understanding the phrase leading up to the words of blessing, "the man whose eye is open" in Number 24:3, the Talmud explains that this refers to a single open eye, teaching us that Bilaam was blind in one eye. So, while his words were words of blessing, commentators continue to see him as suspect, questioning his motives.
Interpreting the Talmud, the Hasidic commentator Rabbi Mordechai of Neschz attempts to help us understand how it is that our own words of criticism or curse might transform into words of blessing. He explains that Bilaam blindness in one eye teaches that our two eyes are for different purposes – one to see the greatness of God, and the other to see our own inadequacy. The tragedy of Bilaam, he says, is Bilaam only saw God's greatness and could not see his own inadequacy.
Like Bilaam, we have two eyes, but if we are not careful, we too will remain blind in one eye. Without humility, self-reflection, and an ability to see our own frailty, we only see the faults of others, the ways in which we appear bigger and better. Like Bilaam, our words may sound sincere to us, but those around us and God know that they are not. Such an inability leads to holier than thou attitudes and an inability to truly celebrate ourselves or the gifts of others, making it impossible to appreciate one another. On this Shabbat, may we find the vision to use both eyes, to recognize the greatness of God and revealing our own self-reflective abilities. And, may we transform our words of criticism, envy, or comparison towards others into words of true blessing, celebrating one another's gifts, acknowledging the contributions of those around us so that we can bring to fruition the dreams of side by side living of Bilaam's blessing: Mah Tovu Ohaleicha Yaakov How good are your tents, Jacob, your dwelling places Israel.
Shabbat shalom!