KNOWING WHAT STANDS AHEAD

“I have sinned for I did not know that you were on the road against me” (Num.22.34)


Since Bilam was totally unaware of the presence of the angels in front of him, where did he do wrong in trying to get his ass who had stopped in her tracks, to move on?

The Holy One Blessed Be He has given man the intellect and they understanding to take cognisance of his situation at any time. So Bilam should have known that his ass had good cause to behave in the way she did. (Shnei Luhot Habrit)

Animals behave instinctively.
Conscious awareness, the divine gift to man, is not instinctive. This quality needs development and cultivation. He who does not dedicate himself to the acquisition of the skills for knowing, fails to actualise his full potential. As a consequence he may not realise his divine purpose.
Of such a person we may well ask, why was he born at all?