In Torah reading parashat Balak we are introduced to a strange character named “Balaam” (בִּלְעָם), who was famously rebuked by a talking donkey, though in light of his supposed ability as a seer with the ability to prophesy in the Name of the LORD (יהוה), we may wonder what to make of this man. Was Balaam, who was a Midianite, a true prophet or a mere puppet in the hands of God?
Jewish scholar Nehama Leibowitz (1906-1997) notes two essential differences between Balaam (who was a Gentile) and the Hebrew prophets of Israel. First, Balaam sought “special visitations and visions,” building altars and performing rituals to “force” the prophetic spirit. The Hebrew prophets, on the other hand, never engaged in these sorts of activities to hear from the LORD, and many were reluctant messengers, convinced of their own unworthiness and nothingness. Second, the Hebrew prophets cautiously spoke in the name of the LORD (“thus saith the LORD…”) to authenticate their message, but Balaam took credit for his visions, flamboyantly describing himself as a great “seer” with special powers. Based on Joshua 13:22 (which describes him as a sorcerer), it is likely that Balaam was given a temporary gift of prophecy, perhaps like the “witch of Endor” was allowed to temporarily communicate with the dead (1 Sam. 28:7-20). In other words, God raised up Balaam to demonstrate his authority over the powers of darkness and to reassure Israel of God’s ongoing protection of his people…. Ein od milvado.
Recall that our Torah portion last week centered on 
A common characteristic of false teachers (like Balaam) is that they are inwardly covetous, though they carefully cloak themselves as godly and pious… Of such the Apostle Peter says, “in their greed they will exploit you with ‘plastic words’ (πλαστοῖς λόγοις) to make merchandise out of you” (2 Pet. 2:3). This suggests they “mold” their speech to exploit (or to suit) their listeners, plastering over what they really believe, and using words with elastic meaning to deceive others… Such teachers therefore appeal to the flesh, to human pride, by scratching the “itch” people have to feel superior toward others, and therefore they often find their audience among the insecure, the weak, and the vulnerable… Because they are covetous – always wanting more – they invariably seek positions of power, authority, fame, and of course they crave wealth to fund their “entitled” lifestyle. Peter says such false teachers make “merchandise” out of you, that is, they regard you as a commodity, an article of exchange, a coin in their pocket… They are not really there for you, though they appeal to you to be there for them, or for the sake of the “little children” or some other cause they will exploit for their advantage.
In our Torah portion this week (i.e., 
In today’s “Daily Dvar” broadcast (link below) I discuss the “Torah of the Vine,” that is, the analogy of the Vine and the branches that Yeshua taught his disciples: “If anyone does not live in me, he is cast off as a branch, and withers…” (John 15:6). We find life only as we remain connected to the Source and Conduit of life, who is the Messiah, the Savior and LORD. True life grows out a heart connection with Yeshua, and without that connection our lives become vain and yield no eternal significance. I hope you find it encouraging, friends.
“And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying… ‘Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted’ (Matt. 5:4). Mourning is the expression of care, the voice of pain, the sorrow of a broken heart. Those who mourn care deeply; they feel the weight of loss; they grieve over sin. Such sorrow expresses the longing to be released from inner sickness of evil, as Yeshua said: “from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts…” (Mark 7:21). Our own evil desires convict us of the truth… Here there is no place left to hide, no rationalization, no vain hope for self-reformation – just the raw revelation of our fatal condition and the sincere appeal for God’s mercy in Yeshua. Mourning over our sins draws us to God, to the Comforter (παράκλητος) who “comes alongside” to bind up the broken heart. The danger remains, however, for those who deny their sin and refuse to mourn, since they are made blind to God’s forgiveness and comfort (John 9:41). How shall God be able in heaven to dry up your tears when you haven’t wept?
Every one of us is a teacher of sorts, proclaiming through our personal choices what we believe to be true. False teachers are those whose choices “teach” that there is no God, no eternal life, no meaning to life, and ultimately, no real hope… It cannot be any other way, for we all teach by our choices; we communicate by our assumptions of what we regard is of “ultimate concern.” Postmodern philosophy never answered any of the haunting existential questions of life, such as: What is reality? Why is there something rather than nothing? What is the purpose of life? What happens when we die? Who am I? Do moral choices matter? and so on, but instead merely reinterpreted the hunger for meaning to be about power and control… Nonsense! People may evade the great questions of life by pretending they are unknowable, but Scripture attests that all people are created in God’s image and are intuitively aware of God’s reality and power: “For His invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made; so they are without excuse” (Rom. 1:20). We have a sacred duty to honor God’s truth and that implies we bear a sacred animosity toward lies and false teaching. “Do not be deceived: associating with false teaching corrupts good character” (1 Cor. 15:33). We hate sin because it wounds and kills the soul. Think straight; awaken to the holiness of life; turn away from vain thoughts and lies; embrace the truth of God’s salvation.