Balak
Can we see clearly, with an `open eye`?
Reflection by Or HaLev teacher Rebecca Schisler:
"In this week's parsha, Balak, king of Moab, becomes fearful of the people Israel and hires the prophet Balam to curse them. But when he takes Balam to their dwelling place and Balam goes out to see them, God `puts a word in his mouth` - and instead of cursing the Israelites, Balam blesses them!
Balak tries two more times. He brings Balam to a new vantage point from which to view the Israelites, hoping that if Balam sees them differently, he will finally curse them. But Balam still blesses the people. And at the third vantage point, which should be the worst view, described as a 'wasteland'- Balam gives the best blessing of all, the famous `Ma tovu ohalecha Yaakov - mishkenotecha Yisrael.` How good are your tents, Jacob - your dwelling places, Israel.
Although Balak had hoped that shifting Balam's visual perspective on the Israelites would finally prompt him to curse them, the Torah describes Balam as 'a man with an open eye.' Balam could see clearly. No matter the vantage point, he could see the holiness of the people Israel - that 'their tents were good' and they were living in a way that was somehow blessed. With this clarity, he could not curse the people. He did not bless them either - rather, the Torah says, `God put a word in his mouth.` the Holy One spoke the blessings through him.
This is our practice. No matter what arises in our lives - the beautiful, the difficult - rather we're looking out from a peak or onto a wasteland - can we see it all clearly, with an 'open eye' like Balam? Can we bless what we see, no matter what it is, and in so doing affirm and bring about more holiness? Perhaps if our eyes are truly open and we are seeing clearly, blessing will naturally come forth in our words and actions - we can get out of our own way, and create space for `God's word` to be in our mouths."