Parashat Balak teaches how HaKadosh Baruch Hu speaks to Israel through the events of the parasha and shows us how to understand moments of fear, uncertainty, and danger.
At the end of Parashat Chukat, Israel had defeated Sichon and Og — two mighty kings before whom the world trembled. Yet the Torah emphasizes that this victory did not come from human strength alone. Hashem told Moshe Rabbeinu: “Do not fear him, for I have given him into your hand.” The victory was possible because Hashem had placed the enemy in Israel’s hands.
But immediately afterward, a new crisis begins. Balak sees what Israel did to the Emorites and becomes afraid. This time, the danger is not only physical or military. It comes through Bilam, through speech, through a curse. Against such a danger, no conventional protection is enough. A person may hide in the safest place, but if the force of the curse were independent, physical defenses would not help.
The parasha therefore, reveals a deeper truth: Balak, Bilam, the ministers of Moav, the ministers of Midian, and all the powers that appear threatening are all in Hashem’s hands. Hashem created them, guides them, and directs them. All the gold, silver, wealth, government, influence, and worldly power surrounding them have no independent force.
Bilam himself becomes the proof. He comes as a great and powerful curser, full of hatred for Israel. He stands on one height, then another, then a third, intending to curse. Yet he cannot curse. He is forced to bless. He declares: “The word that God places in my mouth, that I shall guard and speak.” Even if Balak were to give him a house full of silver and gold, he cannot transgress the word of Hashem.
This is the central message: there is a Baal HaBayit — a Master of the world. Israel does not ultimately depend on political alliances, human guarantees, wealth, military power, or external support. Bilam himself says: “Hen am levadad yishkon u-vagoyim lo yitchashav” — Israel is a people that dwells alone and is not counted among the nations. This does not mean weakness. It means that Israel’s source of strength is different. Israel depends only on HaKadosh Baruch Hu.
The parasha also teaches how Israel must look at reality. If one sees Sichon and Og as invincible giants, fear takes hold. But if one sees that everything comes from Above, then the situation is different. We are on a train whose conductor is HaKadosh Baruch Hu. Our task is to fasten ourselves with emunah.
This is the meaning of “oz,” strength. “Ein oz ela Torah” — there is no true strength except Torah. As it says: “Hashem oz le-amo yiten; Hashem yevarech et amo bashalom” — Hashem gives strength to His people; Hashem blesses His people with peace. One who walks with Torah is firm, secure, and directed toward the right destination. One who looks only to the sides, only at human forces, falls into fear.
The wealth of Israel is not measured by silver and gold. It is not measured by military strength, economic strength, or technological achievement. These may exist, but they are only consequences. The true wealth and inner power of Israel are Torah and mitzvot. This is what Israel carries through history.
Bilam knew this. He recognized that Israel’s strength comes from “rosh tzurim” and “geva’ot” — from the Avot and Imahot, from a spiritual root, from emunah, not from material power.
For this reason, the parasha is called Balak: not to give power to evil, but to nullify it. The Torah names Balak in order to break his force, dissolve his power, and show that no independent strength exists apart from Hashem. What remains is yirat Shamayim, ahavat Hashem, Torah, mitzvot, and emunah.
From the very mouth of Bilam, who came to curse, the Torah reveals the future geula: “Darach kochav miYaakov, vekam shevet miYisrael” — a star will go forth from Yaakov and a staff will rise from Israel. The one who came to curse becomes the one who announces that Hashem’s truth and kingship will ultimately be revealed in the world.
Parashat Balak therefore teaches that the curse is transformed into a blessing when we recognize the truth: there is no autonomous power in the world. Everything is in Hashem’s hands. Israel’s strength is Torah, mitzvot, emunah, yirat Shamayim, and ahavat Hashem. Through this, the people of Israel remain bound to Hashem and move toward the true and complete geulah.
“NOTE: The above is a summary based on the original teaching.”