“G-d refuses to let me go with you.” (Bamidbar/Numbers
22:13)
In this week’s Torah portion, the Moavite King Balak asks a
prophet named Bilaam to go with him and curse the Jewish people. Bilaam asks
G-d for permission and G-d tells him not to bother because the Jews are blessed.
Instead of admitting his inability to curse the Jews, Bilaam just tells Balak
that G-d refused to let him go.
What can we learn from the way Bilaam refused Balak’s
request?
G-d gives all of us strengths, talents and skills that come
easily to us. He also gives us weaknesses and areas in which we are not skilled
and would have to work very hard to improve. G-d gave Bilaam the ability to
prophesize and to give blessings and curses. Bilaam did not want to admit that
he lacked this skill when it came to the Jews. Perhaps he had low self-esteem
and felt that acknowledging a lack of ability would reflect poorly on him.
Perhaps he was too proud to admit that he could not do what the king requested.
Writes Adam Lieberman on aish.com: “Those who can readily
and easily admit that they aren’t good at something aren’t showing weakness or
incompetence. Rather, it [the admission] demonstrates honesty, strength and
self-confidence. Others will look at this person and see someone who is
comfortable with the strengths and talents that they do have and need
not proclaim to all they meet that they’re good at everything.”
As parents, we are often called upon to do things that we
are not that skilled at or even not capable of doing. If we are able to admit
that we are not the right person for the job, our esteem will actually rise in
the eyes of those seeking our help. It will show that we are confident enough
to admit our weaknesses. People will know that when we do agree to take on a
task, we will carry it out successfully and to our fullest ability.
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