The Yetzer--The Power of Desire
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This sheet on Numbers 22 was written by Adam Mayer for 929 and can also be found here
We learn about the inner struggles.
Balaam doesn’t reply to King Balak’s messengers immediately. Instead he tells them to stay the night, and he waits to hear from God in his dream. When he wakes, he faithfully tells them that he cannot curse the Israelites, for they are blessed by God. King Balak does not give up. He doubles his efforts of temptation, sending more distinguished men and more money. Again Balaam doesn’t answer immediately and waits to hear from God in his sleep. This time, however, it is obvious that Balaam knows the answer, since he is aware of the Divine will. Still he is hoping for God to validate his personal desires by providing a different answer. This is the Yetzer, the inner powers of desire that are tempting Balaam, forcing him to struggle between what he knows is right, and what he wants. It is at this point that God gets angry and sends His angel to deal with Balaam and the donkey.
“The angel of the Lord said to him, "Why have you beaten your she-donkey these three times? Behold, I have came out to thwart you, for you have (yarat) hastened against Me.”
It seems from this verse that the reason God sends the angel hinges upon Balaam hastening, and in Hebrew, yarat (י.ר.ט)
Rashi offers multiple interpretations of this word yarat - hastened.
The Netziv explains: When a person is far from sin, the sin does does not dance before him, but when one intentionally brings oneself close, it is very difficult to overcome the yetzer, and one is quick to go through with the sin.
We portray Balaam in a negative light because he knew the right thing to do and nonetheless went the other way. He tempted himself by trying again, by asking again, hoping for a way to fulfill his personal desires of making lots of money. Balaam puts up no fight, shows no signs of resistance against his inner desires. Balaam chooses, against his better judgement, to hurry down the path that so clearly was wrong, ensuring that he would lose his self control. God gets angry when choices are so clear that even a donkey can see what’s right, yet Balaam gives into his selfish desires and chooses the wrong path.
Balaam doesn’t reply to King Balak’s messengers immediately. Instead he tells them to stay the night, and he waits to hear from God in his dream. When he wakes, he faithfully tells them that he cannot curse the Israelites, for they are blessed by God. King Balak does not give up. He doubles his efforts of temptation, sending more distinguished men and more money. Again Balaam doesn’t answer immediately and waits to hear from God in his sleep. This time, however, it is obvious that Balaam knows the answer, since he is aware of the Divine will. Still he is hoping for God to validate his personal desires by providing a different answer. This is the Yetzer, the inner powers of desire that are tempting Balaam, forcing him to struggle between what he knows is right, and what he wants. It is at this point that God gets angry and sends His angel to deal with Balaam and the donkey.
“The angel of the Lord said to him, "Why have you beaten your she-donkey these three times? Behold, I have came out to thwart you, for you have (yarat) hastened against Me.”
It seems from this verse that the reason God sends the angel hinges upon Balaam hastening, and in Hebrew, yarat (י.ר.ט)
Rashi offers multiple interpretations of this word yarat - hastened.
- Perhaps it is an acronym “She feared (Yarah) , she saw (Ra’ata), she turned aside (naT’ta)” emphasizing how even the donkey knew, but you didn’t. You should have, instead you provoked me.
- Literally it means hurried: Balaam was hurrying on his way in order to anger God.
- It could also mean desire: Balaam was desiring to go against God.
The Netziv explains: When a person is far from sin, the sin does does not dance before him, but when one intentionally brings oneself close, it is very difficult to overcome the yetzer, and one is quick to go through with the sin.
We portray Balaam in a negative light because he knew the right thing to do and nonetheless went the other way. He tempted himself by trying again, by asking again, hoping for a way to fulfill his personal desires of making lots of money. Balaam puts up no fight, shows no signs of resistance against his inner desires. Balaam chooses, against his better judgement, to hurry down the path that so clearly was wrong, ensuring that he would lose his self control. God gets angry when choices are so clear that even a donkey can see what’s right, yet Balaam gives into his selfish desires and chooses the wrong path.
(ח) וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֲלֵיהֶ֗ם לִ֤ינוּ פֹה֙ הַלַּ֔יְלָה וַהֲשִׁבֹתִ֤י אֶתְכֶם֙ דָּבָ֔ר כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר יְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה אֵלָ֑י וַיֵּשְׁב֥וּ שָׂרֵֽי־מוֹאָ֖ב עִם־בִּלְעָֽם׃
(8) He said to them, “Spend the night here, and I shall reply to you as the LORD may instruct me.” So the Moabite dignitaries stayed with Balaam.
Rabbi Adam Mayer teaches Tanach and Gemara at Kohelet Yeshiva near Philadelphia.
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