BALAK

Chasing that Prophecy

It’s not crazy to say that perhaps we are approaching the ‘end of times’. The loose ends of history are tying together, and the entire picture is becoming clear. It is no coincidence that the recent military operation from Israel was named borrowing language from Bilaam’s prophecy: “like a lion rises,” thereby demonstrating the depth of that man’s vision.

Bilaam is the first to speak about the real thing: “Come, I will advise you what this people will do to your people at the end of days.” Bilaam speaks of the future redemption in greater detail than any other person, far more than even Moshe Rabbeinu. The Rambam rules that Bilaam’s prophecy is the halachic source that obligates belief in the coming of Moshiach.