Weekly Torah Lesson
Parsha: Bolek (Destroyer / Devastator)
Torah: B’B’midbar 22:2 – 25:9
** The main theme of this week’s Parasha is Bolek hiring Bilam to cancel the blessing of Avinu on Israel and replace it with a curse.
This story raises a question. Can a blessing be cancelled?
Let’s see what the Scriptures teach us.
When Yitzak was tricked by Ya’akov into blessing him instead of his brother Asav, he was confronted by his older son for his blessing. Here is what he had to say.
Then Isaac trembled exceedingly, and said, “Who? Where is the one who hunted game and brought it to me? I ate all of it before you came, and I have blessed him — and indeed he shall be blessed.” (Ge 27:33 )
** It seems that it wasn’t in Yitzak’s power to revoke the blessing that he had been tricked into giving. Twenty years later, Ya’akov uttered a curse that cost his wife Rachel her life. I am assuming that Ya’akov did not have the authority to reverse the curse that he uttered as well.
** Now lets look at some of the conversation between Bolek and Bilam:
Therefore please come at once, curse this people for me, for they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I shall be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land, for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed. (Nu 22:6 )
** Apparently, Bilam had a reputation for being effective when he blessed or cursed someone.
And Avinu said to Bilam, “You shall not go with them; you shall not curse the people, for they are blessed.” (Nu 22:12 )
Behold, I have received a command to bless; He has blessed, and I cannot reverse it. (Nu 23:20 )
Now when Bilam saw that it pleased Avinu to bless Israel, he did not go as at other times, to seek to use sorcery, but he set his face toward the wilderness. (Nu 24:1 )
** So, what made Israel invincible against their enemies? Here is what Bilam observed:
He has not beheld iniquity in Jacob; Neither has he seen perverseness in Israel: Avinu his Elohim is with him, And the shout of a king is among them. (Nu 23:21)
** Israel has finally gotten to the place where their observance of the Torah is found to be “pleasing” to Avinu.
26 “Behold, I set before you today a blessing and a curse: 27 the blessing, if you obey the commandments of Avinu Elohekah which I command you today;” (De 11:26-27 )
** Here is the “contingency clause” that I wrote about earlier. We have been both blessed and cursed and which one we receive is based on our “obedience” to Avinu.
And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of Avinu Elohekah: (De 28:2 )
I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; (De 30:19 )
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