ילקוט בלק (רמז תשעא) כשברך בלעם את ישראל היה קולו הולך ששים מיל כמחנה ישראל, וגדולה ברכה שברך בלעם את ישראל מברכות שברך יעקב את השבטים ומברכות שברכם משה ,כשברך יעקב את השבטים הוכיח את ראובן ואת שמעון ולוי , אף משה לא ברכן עד שהוכיחן תחלה ,אבל בלעם כשברכן היו ברכותיו שוות ואין בהם פגם .
had no: פְ גַ ם flaw. Look how Davka the worst of the worst produces the best of the best. The next time things go bad and you’re getting depressed, don’t be so impressed. It may be a Hakdama (prelude) to something extra good.
Look at how those ugly wicked poisonous snakes became the great N'chash HaN'choshes which gives instant healing! There is so much “bad” in this world which is really a stepping stone to the greatest goodness. Bilam was either the son of Lavan, or Lavan himself, about whom it says: וְלָבָן בִּקֵש לַעֲקוֹר אֶת הַכֹּל Lavan tried to uproot us entirely. Lavan was the worst of the worst, even compared to Paroh HaRasha.
The Worst Midda Can Be Channeled to Reach the Highest Madregos
And where did Avraham and Yitzchok insist on getting Shiduchim for Klal Yisroel? Not in Canaan, but Davka by Aram; Lavan’s country! Avraham means Romemus, and Sara also means: שְ רָ רָ ה nobility. Canaan means K'niya, i.e., bending and humility; and Aram means Romemus. Even the worst form of Romemus and true wicked Ga'ava can be channeled to the highest Madregos.
And often you Davka need a wicked trait to give you success. לְעוֹלָם יַעֲסוֹק אָדָם בְתוֹרָה וּמִּצְוֹת אַפִּילוּ שֶלֹא לִּשְמָהּ שֶמִּתוֹךְ שֶלֹא לִּשְמָ הּ בָא לִּשְמָהּ סנהדרין קה ב A person should learn Torah and do Mitzvos Shelo Li'shmah (for the wrong reasons) because eventually he will do it Li'shmah (to serve Hashem). Use your Yetzer Hara! So many of those wild kids turn out the greatest! A lazy person can sometimes be a big Ma'ala, since he has less Ga'ava and he sins less. A quieter person has less Lashon Hara and: אוֹנָאַת דְבָרִּ ים hurtful speech and Ka'as in his system.
Every Chisaron Has a Ma'ala
Always build up your Chisaron and see good in it! The person with Yissurim has much more humility and less Gehinom. The lustful Baal Ta'ava should know that he has tremendous potential to becoming a fiery Oved Hashem! But Ga'ava is actually a #1: שֶ לֹ א לִּ שְ מָ הּ (ulterior motivation) since the Chovos Halvavos says that without it you can’t be a real Anav.
People like us may need a lifetime to keep working on Kosher Ga'ava. And look how Davka from Bilam HaRasha came such wonderful Brachos. We also find that Hashem causes the biggest Tzaddikim to descend from the worst Reshaim. Like Haman, Sis'ra, and Sancheirev (and almost even Nevuchadnetzar) had children who were the greatest Tzaddikim, like Rabbi Akiva and Rabbi Meir. (Gemara).
Learning from Lavan and Bilam
We learn a lot of Halachos from Lavan (like אֵ ין מְ עַ רְ בִּ ין שִּ מְ חָ ה בְ שִּ מְ חָ ה, שֶ לֹ א לָתֵת הַצְעִּירָה לִּפְנֵי הַבְכִּירָה). We can even suggest that we can learn from the bad Middos of Bilam; how he loved Kavod to the extreme, since in Avodas Hashem so often those who love Kavod work harder and become greater. Also, we see his unusual determination ignoring all the signs against him.
