{"id":78387,"date":"2020-08-03T16:51:54","date_gmt":"2020-08-03T13:51:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/?p=78387"},"modified":"2020-08-03T16:51:54","modified_gmt":"2020-08-03T13:51:54","slug":"why-does-balaam-get-a-starring-role-here","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/why-does-balaam-get-a-starring-role-here\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Does Balaam Get A Starring Role Here?"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[281],"tags":[],"acf":{"old_id":"78387","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":78133,"related_cahpter":"538","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content":{"description":"Divine protection behind the scenes as well\r\n\r\n","content":"

In chapter 6, Micah challenges the people that they should be grateful to God. God took them out of Egypt and sent them Moses, Aaron and Miriam. This section seems like it should continue with a discussion of the wonders in Egypt, or the protection of the people in the wilderness- with the manna and the clouds; perhaps even the giving of the Torah. Yet, Micah immediately shifts to discussing Balak and Balaam. We have seen recounting of the story of Exodus previously in the books of the Prophets, but these stories never mention Balak and Balaam. Why does the prophet reference Balaam and Balak?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The story of Balak and Balaam appears in Numbers 22. Balak is the King of Moab and conspired to hire Balaam- a well known prophet for the nations to curse the Israelites. Professing to follow what God commands, Balaam attempts to curse the people three times only to praise them. His donkey even speaks to him to warn him not to curse the people. What is unique in this story is that the story of Balak and Balaam is the only story in the five books of the Torah that does not have an active character from the Israelites. It happens entirely out of the purview of the people.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Why would such a story be included in the Bible?\u00a0 It’s placement in the text is close to when the people enter the land of Israel. This transition moment is the retreat of the bombastic God of the miracles of Egypt, the manna, the clouds, etc. As the people enter the land, God’s presence is not as readily discernible. By recounting a story that happens behind the scenes, God is teaching the people that even if they do not see him outright, God is always there protecting them. That’s what Micah is trying to show the people here.\u00a0 The gratitude owed to God is not just for the outward display of the Exodus, but also the idea that God protects them. Even when the situation seems grim and dark, God is always there.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","image":{"ID":48144,"id":48144,"title":"Num24-Balak and Balaam","filename":"Num24-Balak-and-Balaam.jpg","filesize":0,"url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Num24-Balak-and-Balaam.jpg","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/the-rogues-speech\/num24-balak-and-balaam\/","alt":"","author":"7","description":"","caption":"","name":"num24-balak-and-balaam","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":48143,"date":"2019-01-24 14:21:04","modified":"2023-04-11 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