A Talking Ass

The Medrash is very profound in its contrast between Moshe Rabbeinu, the prophet of the Jews, and Bilaam, that of the non-Jews. Bilaam, states the Medrash was Hashem's way of communicating to the non-Jews that they were not worthy of prophecy, that Hashem's presence was ill-suited for the non-Jew. 

One quality or trait after the next, the Medrash records what it was that Bilaam had, his unique strengths, fortitude, charisma, wisdow, and that notwithstanding every one of his strengths went to naught, was used to destroy the world, and not construct it, impoverish it rather than enrich it. 

Where, in my opinion is this most epitomized? In the discourse between Bilaam and his ass. Bilaam, it is evident, has little emotional attachment. The ass doesn't use pathos when he turns to him, but rather logos;  "After I've shown you the greatest loyalty, couldn't you have conceived that something else had happened here?" And Bilaam, outsmarted by his ass answers, "No, you're right. You never endangered me."

What is it we can learn from here? 

A will that's blinded by a purpose, is unflinching to the point that reason has little grip. Bilaam, who cherished the intellect to the greatest extreme, "the one who knew the will of the Almighty," used that knowledge in an abortive way that failed to see the larger picture, to see in between the lines, "hearing without listening," knowing exactly what God wanted but asking Him to say it point blank to the point that there was no room for error. The Jew, represented by Moshe, is charged with listening, the very words of the shema beckoning us to listen, to hear the pain of the other, to use not the power of sight which Bilaam so often misused but rather to listen deeper, understand the tone, the undertones, the very contours of God's voice which still echoes till this day.   

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