In this week’s Torah portion (i.e., Balak) we read an ancient prophecy of the coming Messiah: “a Star shall come out of Jacob…” Amazingly, the “meshugenah” prophet Balaam – who may have been the forebear of the “magi of the east” (Matt. 2:1-2) – actually foresaw the advent of the Messiah: “I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near: a Star shall come out of Jacob (כוכב מיעקב), and a Ruler shall rise out of Israel” (Num. 24:17). Balaam’s prophecy actually described the coming of the Messiah and his reign in two distinct aspects: “A Star from Jacob shall come” (literally, “shall lead the way,” i.e., דרך), which refers to our Messiah’s first coming as the way of life (i.e., הדרך החיים, John 14:6), “and a Ruler shall arise (i.e., וקם שׁבט) from Israel,” refers to our Messiah’s second coming to establish the Kingdom of Zion upon the final redemption.
Hebrew Lesson:
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“Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you” (Psalm 73:25). Such is the “exile of hope” we suffer in this world… Torah begins: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth, and the earth was “tohu va’vohu v’choshekh” (תהוּ וָבהוּ וְחשֶׁךְ) – confusion and emptiness and darkness – which the sages interpret to mean that when we truly understand that God created the heavens and the earth, we will realize our earthy desires to be barren, empty and unreal.
When you become alive to the truth that the LORD is your Rock, the very ground upon which you live, move, and have your being, then your steps are made sure, as it says, “The steps of a man are established by the LORD, when he delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast down: for the LORD holds his hand” (Psalm 37:23-24). When you are unsure of your way, when you walk in uncertainty, you are unsteady in your resolve and are tempted to regard your life as being without any solid foundation. As you commit your way to the LORD, your steps are made sure, for you are walking before his Presence, and therefore you are upheld by his power.
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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., 