Many great men & women of God have taught and expounded upon the topic entitled: “The Spiritual Breakthrough” in many genres which needs no further superlatives. But what most lack the understanding of is “The Spiritual Breaking Point” which must be overcome before the other can truly be attained & celebrated!

The Torah portion for this week is “Balak (Devastator …).” The following statement is absolutely true for this parasha; Light can’t remotely perceive darkness, but on the other hand darkness is acutely conscious of Light. Numbers 22:2 in the KJV says “ 2 And Balak the son of Zippor SAW ALL that Israel had done to the Amorites.” This hyperlink of an ancient map of the land of Moab & the Amorites should give you a better understanding of the supernatual power of occultism (to see into other kingdom realms) King Balak the son of Zippor King of the people of Moab possessed:

BALAK (Devastator … - בָּלָק)

The understanding of the meaning of the Hebrew word itself is revealed in the meaning of each letter within the word:

Bet-בָּ

Tent Floor Plan- Family, House, In

Lamed-לָּ

The Shepherd's Staff- Teach, Yoke, To bind

Kooph-קַּ

Sun on the horizon- condense, circle, time

His father’s Name: Zippor (Bird, or Fowl …צִפּוֹר)

Tsade -צִּ

Trail, - Journey, Chase, Hunt

Pey-פּ

Mouth- Blow, Scatter, Edge

Cholem Vav -וֹ

Trail, - Journey, Chase, Hunt

Resh -ר

Head of man- First, Top, Beginning

The Answer to our question is found deep within the picturgraphy of these biblical villains which will be expounded upon this Saturday Service. But just show how powerful Balaam was here just a few stats: The Midianite Balaam of Pethor, son of Beor, is a prophet who is hired by Balak the king of Moab in order to curse Israel (Numbers 22:5). Balaam initially finds the endeavor not a good idea (Numbers 22:18) but he goes anyway and ends up starring in one of the most curious scenes in the Bible: that of the talking donkey (Numbers 22:21-35).

When he finally gets there, Balaam ends up blessing Israel in every possible way, predicting even the coming of the Messiah (Numbers 24:17). Still, Israel engages Midian in a bloody genocide, kills the five kings and Balaam as well (Numbers 31:8).

Later in the Bible Balaam became something of a byword. Peter speaks of "the way of Balaam (Βαλααμ), who loved the wages of unrighteousness" (2 Peter 2:15). John the Revelator speaks of "the teaching of Balaam," which involved putting a stumbling block before Israel (Revelation 2:14).

It may be that Balaam serves in the Bible as the personification of divination and the reading of omen, that is the art of harvesting the environment for clues about the way things work without actually having to go through the trouble of learning to understand reality. Divination degenerates nature to a manipulable device with a few buttons, and separates the diviner and his audience from their rightful place in nature and ultimately from God.

See Yah This Sabbath ... Much love in Yahushua!

Rabbi John Wesley A. PhD & Pastor Martha
Congregation Beth Hashem in Durham & Greenville NC