Balak and Beyond: Recognizing Divine Intervention from Ancient Plots to Modern Perils!

This week’s parshah stands out so distinctly that the Talmud considers it almost as a separate book. It recounts a failed plot aimed at cursing the Jewish people to thwart their advancement into the land of Israel. According to the Talmud, this was likely not an isolated attempt. But why does the Torah highlight these failed plans, especially those that did not come to fruition?

The crux of the matter is that such failures become significant when they are the result of explicit divine intervention, as demonstrated in our parshah. Several Biblical authors emphasize this point, underscoring the importance of recognizing and being grateful for divine protection. One striking example is found in Michah 6:5, where it states, “My people, remember now what Balak king of Moav devised, and what Bila’am, the son of Be’or answered him… that you may know the righteous acts of the Lord.”

However, grasping the significance of something that almost occurred but did not can be challenging. Imagine if we had learned after the fact that the Holocaust was narrowly averted. How would that knowledge impact us? While divine intervention is a key factor, it’s crucial to consider the context. For the Jewish people during their time in the desert, divine intervention was routine, a safeguard against natural obstacles. Thus, the story of Bila’am might not seem extraordinary in this light.

This concept is vividly illustrated by recent events involving former President and Presidential Nominee Donald J. Trump. On July 13th, 2024, at around 6:00 pm, a dramatic moment unfolded when an assailant tried to assassinate Trump by firing a bullet at him during one of Trump's rallies. Remarkably, the bullet missed its mark because Trump turned his head at the last second. Many viewed this as either a fortunate twist of fate or a moment of divine intervention.

We might also recall In 2020, when an envelope containing the lethal poison ricin was intercepted before it could reach him. The plot was thwarted by the vigilance and skill of law enforcement agencies, and many interpreted this as an instance of divine protection.

Moreover, during the 2016 campaign, an armed man at a rally came alarmingly close to harming then-candidate Trump, only to be subdued by Secret Service agents. These incidents highlight the potential for disaster and the remarkable interventions that prevent such outcomes.

These contemporary parallels underscore how significant it is to recognize and be grateful for the unseen protective forces at work in our lives. Just as the Torah urges the Jewish people to remember and be thankful for the divine intervention that saved them from the curse intended by Bila’am, we too should appreciate the layers of protection that often go unnoticed, whether they come in the form of averted threats or narrowly missed disasters. Cultivating an awareness of both the overt miracles and the subtle protections can help us better appreciate the full spectrum of divine favor in our lives.

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