08 Jul 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…”