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    BALAK: CONCEALED MIRACLES

    (Yorah Deiah 356) writes, “Everything
    written in the Torah we, ourselves, saw
    it occur. The exception is the story of
    Bilaam…
    “The miracles of yetzias Mitzrayim
    and the miracles that occurred in the

    desert were performed before all six-
    hundred-thousand members of Bnei

    Yisrael. There wasn’t one Yid who
    didn’t see it. (According to the view that
    Yisro came after matan Torah, Moshe’s
    children weren’t there. But besides this
    exception, there isn’t one Yid who didn’t
    see the wonders with his own eyes.) A
    father won’t inherit a lie to his children;
    therefore, it is like we saw the miracles
    with our eyes.
    “Also, the creation of the world, the
    stories of the snake in Gan Eden, the
    mabul, and Dor Haflagah [is like we
    saw these miracles with our own eyes].
    The Ramban (Drashos HaRamban)
    writes that Adam HaRishon saw that he

    was created alone, without a father and
    mother, he saw what occurred in Gan
    Eden, and that he was banished. Adam
    repeated all of this
    to Shem, the son of
    Noach, the Rebbe
    of Yaakov Avinu.
    Yaakov Avinu was
    fifty years old when
    Shem was niftar,
    and Yaakov heard
    all of this. Shem also
    taught Yaakov Avinu
    about the mabul [he
    was in the teivah] and
    the Dor Haflagah.
    Yaakov told his
    children [he told it
    to Levi], and Amram
    heard it from Levi. Amram told it to his
    sons, Moshe and Aharon. And the entire
    generation heard it from their parents…
    “We witnessed the episodes of the
    entire Torah, except for the parashah of
    Bilaam. Because, who told us about the
    meetings between the king of Moav and
    a sorcerer called Bilaam? Who knew

    that he built seven mizbichos and that he
    wanted to curse, but it was turned around
    and became a brachah?

    “Bnei Yisrael were
    dwelling in the
    desert, while they
    [Balak and Bilaam]
    were in Moav, on top
    of a mountain. They
    looked down and
    saw the Jewish nation
    from a distance. How
    could the people in the
    desert know that they
    were being watched
    from a mountaintop
    and that they were
    using sorcery to harm
    them? Even Moshe Rabbeinu didn’t
    know about it, he heard from Hashem’s
    mouth, and he wrote it in the sefer
    Torah. Yet, the Navi shouts that we must
    remember this episode when Balak tried
    to have the Jewish nation cursed
    The Chasam Sofer is teaching a lesson in
    emunah, but it is also a lesson in bitachon.
    It is a reminder that we should always
    place our trust in Hashem because no
    one can help us but Hashem.
    Let us think about this scenario:
    It states (Micha 6:5) “My people,
    remember now what Balak king of
    Moab planned, and what Bilaam the
    son of Beor answered him. From
    Shittim to Gilgal, may you recognize
    the kind deeds of Hashem.” The
    pasuk tells us to remember Hashem’s
    kindness when He turned Bilaam’s
    curses into blessings. Let us not
    forget that only Hashem knew about
    the danger. Only Hashem knew
    that nations were plotting to curse
    the Jewish nation, and apparently,
    Bilaam’s curses were something to
    be afraid of. Moshe Rabbeinu didn’t
    know about the danger; the nation
    didn’t know, and they didn’t realize
    that they should daven. And Hashem
    performed the miracle for them,
    turning the curse into a blessing!
    This reveals to us that we must have
    bitachon in Hashem. Sometimes, we
    think we have the strength and the
    ability to protect ourselves. This is a
    widespread belief in which people err.
    Everyone will admit, however, that we
    can’t protect ourselves from surprises.
    How can we defend ourselves against
    the goyim who come up with new
    ideas each day on how to harm the
    Jewish nation? We don’t know what

    to expect next to be
    ready. This reality
    reminds us that
    our only hope is to
    trust in Hashem.
    It was from such
    a danger, from
    Bilaam’s curses, that Hashem saved us.
    It happened concealed on a mountaintop,
    but Hashem knew, and Hashem foiled
    their plans.
    The Meshech Chachmah (Devarim
    10:20) describes different kinds of
    bitachon:
    One type is when someone trusts the
    government to help him. Another kind of
    bitachon is when a wife trusts that her
    husband will support her. A third kind
    of bitachon, a very high level of trust,
    is when a child of a king trusts that his
    father, the king, will provide him with
    his needs.
    Bitachon in Hashem is even stronger
    because Hashem can protect us and help
    us with matters we aren’t even aware of.
    Hashem knows what we need, more than
    we know.
    For example, if someone plots to harm
    the king’s son, the king won’t know
    about it. And even if he knows, he might
    be unable to prevent it from transpiring.
    Hashem knows all our needs, including
    the matters that we aren’t aware of, and
    Hashem can save us. Therefore, the
    highest form of bitachon is to trust in
    Hashem.
    The Meshech Chachmah writes,
    “Hashem yisbarach is our King and our
    Father, and therefore He will save us
    (based on Yeshayah 33:22). We believe
    that Hashem is close to His creations to
    give them their food and all their needs
    and to protect them from illnesses.
    Hashem knows a person’s needs more
    than the person himself is aware of them.
    And Hashem has tzaar when we lack
    something, as it states (Yeshayah 63:9)
    Hashem feels the person’s needs more
    than the person feels them, as Chazal
    say on the pasuk (Shemos 3:7) ‘I know
    their pain’…Hashem has the ability,
    and He knows everything that happens
    to a person… He knows what people
    are plotting, and therefore, He cares
    to do favors for them more than they
    could care for themselves. Therefore, a
    person should have bitachon and be calm
    and tranquil, and he should only do the
    hishtadlus that are necessary, as Hashem
    commanded all creation to do…”