Moshe Rabeinu was the greatest navi that ever was and ever will be; we declare that in the daily “Ani Maamins”. In Parshas Balak, we are introduced to another great navi, a rasha by the name of Bilaam. Exactly what kind of navi was Bilaam Harasha?
The answer is not so simple; it’s a machlokes rishonim. The Rambam says that he was a navi who was l’havdil on par with the gadlus of Moshe Rabeinu. Yet the Ramban says the opposite. By the story with Bilaam’s donkey, we find that Hashem had to open up his eyes so he could see the malach standing there. If he was a navi, says the Ramban, there would be no need for Hashem to open up his eyes. The Sifri says there was no navi like Moshe, but that’s only by klal Yisroel; however, by the umos haolam there was such a navi, which was Bilaam. Why did Hashem give the goyim such a great navi? So that the umos haolam can’t excuse themselves by saying “If we would’ve had a navi like Moshe Rabeinu, then we would’ve been better”.
The Baalei Mussar point out that Moshe Rabeinu wasn’t born a navi. Hashem gave him the tools and potential to become the greatest navi and he fulfilled that potential. Bilaam was given the same tools and the same potential, but look what he did with it! Hashem gifted him with tremendous kochos and he used it to bring about destruction.
This is a lesson for all of us – we are all given strengths and tools – but the question is what do we do with it? We can use those kochos to build or destroy – it’s our choice.
Rav Yaakov Galinsky tells a story of a Rav who had a shvere shaila and needed time for himself to delve into it. He decided to go to shul late at night when no one else would be there so he would be able to learn in peace. There he sat quietly in the corner of the empty shul, when suddenly a yid comes running into the shul, heading straight to the aron kodesh. He pushes away the paroches, opens the door to the aron kodesh, and cried out loud, “Hashem, please give me ruach hakodesh!” The Rav is astounded; what a holy Jew! Look how he cries to attain ruach hakodesh! But as the yid turns around, the Rav is stunned; this “holy Jew” is none other than Yankel the ganav, a lowly thief. The Rav asks him, “Have you done teshuvah?” “No, Rav”, Yankel is quick to explain, “it’s just that people used to live in much smaller apartments, so it was easy for me to steal. Now, however, people live in large homes with many rooms. I need ruach hakodesh to know where their valuables are hidden!”
Yes, it’s our choice what to do with the gifts we are given. A person can even daven for ruach hakodesh for the wrong reasons! And this is what Bilaam did - he used everything Hashem gave him for destruction.
