This week's Torah thoughts are dedicated to King the donkey,
formerly of Telford Lane in Ramona, now retired to Texas.
This week's Torah portion is Balak (Numbers 22:2 -
25:9). The Israelites are in Moabite
territory, growing more numerous and powerful.
Alarmed, Balak, king of Moab, hires the Midianite prophet Balaam to
curse the people Israel. He tries to do
so, but every time he looks at them, from every vantage point, the only words
that God sends to his mouth are words of blessing.
The most startling feature of this Torah portion is the
speaking donkey, as Balaam makes his way to meet Balak. The animal clearly sees before her an angel
of the Lord blocking her path and
appropriately steps aside to avoid him.
For this, Balaam beats her. After
two more encounters with the angel, each followed by a beating, the donkey
finally turns to Balaam and says "What are you beating me for? You've been riding me all day; is this how I
usually behave?" Only then does
Balaam look up and see the angel, drawn sword in hand, standing before him.
We will probably live our whole lives without ever
encountering a speaking donkey, but we come across Balaam's situation every
day. If you are so caught up in your
daily business and your own train of thought that you can't see an angel of the
Lord before you, you need to pay more attention to what's going on around you.
Take down your Bible and read the whole Torah portion this
Shabbat. You'll enjoy it.
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