The current situation in the Middle East is grim. ISIS forces (Islamic Jihadist forces) are moving across Iraq and threatening the regions of Syria and Jordan. The past few weeks have also been volatile in the State of Israel. Three Jewish youth were kidnapped and murdered and most recently an Arab youth was kidnapped and murdered. Revenge and Justice are being sought on all sides. Where is Hope? Where is Peace? Where is Justice?
In this week’s Torah Portion (Num. 22-25) the children of Israel are getting ready to enter the Land of Israel. They have destroyed the Amorites and Balak, king of Moab, fears the Israelites. Balak set his mind to curse and destroy the Israelites. He sent for Balaam to curse them. Balaam seeks God’s counsel and God tells him an emphatic NO! Balak sends another delegation with a promise of great honor and more riches if Balaam will agree to curse Israel. Balaam asks God again and this time God permits him to go. Soon afterward, however, God gives him a grave warning through his talking donkey and the angel of the LORD with a drawn sword not to curse but only bless the Israelites. Balaam does as God commands. Balak, the King of Moab, is furious.
In this Torah Portion Balak intended to curse the Israelites and to destroy them. In his desire to curse the Israelites Balak found himself fighting against God Himself.
The evil inclination of man is to destroy, conquer, and kill the innocent for his own benefit. The evil man thinks he can do whatever he wants in his desire to control the world. The evil man thinks that he is all-powerful and that God does not see. But just as Balak discovered, God is not blind to the affairs of man.
With the current unrest in the Middle East, I find comfort from this week’s Torah Portion by knowing that God does see and God does act. I also read something similar in Psalm chapter ten.
Psalm chapter ten speaks of the wicked man who is proud and haughty against God. The wicked man hides and snatches away the innocent to kill them (Ps. 10:8): the very thing that has happened in Israel over these past few weeks. “He says to himself, ‘God has forgotten; He has hidden His face; He will never see it’” (Ps. 10:11).
The final seven verses of this psalm are a cry of the psalmist for God to arise and remember those who are afflicted. It is a cry for justice from God to repay the evil of the wicked and crush his strength so that he will terrorize no more (Ps. 10:12-18). The psalmist acknowledges that the LORD is King forever and He hears the cries of the afflicted.
The evil around us would be overwhelming if not for faith in an Omnipotent God that sees all and will bring about Justice for those who call upon Him.
Shabbat Shalom!
Torah Reading: Numbers 22:2-25:9
Haftarah Reading: Micah 5:7-6:8
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