I hope you all had a very good week. This week’s Torah Portion is Balak.  The Scripture is Numbers 22:2-25:9.  Here is a brief commentary from Baruch: 

This week’s scriptural readings attest that although Israel has not always walked with HaShem, G-d maintains His call upon His people. The prophet Micah recounts that Israel will experience G-d’s mercy and will take note of His righteous acts and will be moved to respond to HaShem according to His will. The question is, just how does HaShem desire us to behave? The answer is found in the well known verse,
“He has told you O man what is good and what the L-rd demands from you; that you do justice and love mercy, and humbly walk with your G-d.” Micah 6:8
In a general way one can understand the intent of this verse, however how does one practice this specifically? This verse is much like what Rav Shaul said,

“Finally my brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honest, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are appropriate, whatever things are of a sound reputation, if they possess virtue, if they are praiseworthy, meditate upon these things.”  Philippians 4:8

It is not that one cannot comprehend the general direction and intent of both Micah’s and Paul’s words, the problem is how in practice to fulfill them. In other words, one requires a standard for discerning and determining what is just, pure, appropriate, etc. There are those that would respond that the Holy Spirit testifies to the believer how he should behave in order to fulfill the words of Micah and Paul. It is not that I disagree with this, however there are times that I struggle to hear and understand Him. I have found the best interpreter of the Holy Spirit is the Word of G-d. It is Scripture that helps me confirm the teaching, conviction, and counsel of the Holy Spirit.

What I have found most helpful to do is to personally study each of the biblical commandments from the Torah. It is through seeking the intent of each of these commandments, that one learns a very important truth. This truth is that the commandments of G-d reveal His character. Messiah, Who is G-d incarnate, never violated any of the Biblical commandments, because He is G-d with us. That is, Messiah expressed during the thirty-three years He was on the earth, the very character of G-d, by fulfilling the Torah. Believers are called to be like Yeshua, hence live the manner of life that Yeshua lived. Hence, when one walks humbly with G-d and fulfills the admonitions of both Micah and Shaul, his behavior will express the righteousness that the Torah expresses (See Romans 8:4).

The problem today is that all too often people use their own intellect and rationale, rather than realizing that human logic never arrives at the truths of G-d. Such truths only come by means of revelation—revelation of the Holy Spirit or revelation of Holy Scripture. The Word and the Spirit speak the same language.