Sabbath Readings - June 26, 2026

Parashah 40: Balak (Destroyer, To Lay Waste)

Numbers 22:2–25:9

Micah 5:6(7)– 6:8

2 Peter 2:1–22

Jude 11

Revelation 2:14–15

Numbers 22:2 Now Balak the son of Tzippor saw all that Isra’el had done to the Emori.

At the end of last week’s Torah reading, the people of Isra’el had traveled on and camped in the plains of Moab. Balak was the king of Moab, and the Moabites were afraid of the Israelites, because they were great in number. Balak employed Balaam (Bil’am) to curse the Israelites, because Balak believed, “They (the Israelites) are stronger than I am.”

When your enemies fear you instead of seeing you as an ally and there to help them, the enemy will use all types of tactics of the adversary to destroy you. Balak and Moab chose to hire a sorcerer/prophet (depending on the version you read) to speak against G-d’s people. Yet, in Numbers 22: ¹² G-d instructs Balaam, “You are not to go with them; you are not to curse the people, because they are blessed.” We know that if G-d be for us who can be against us (cf. Romans 8:31), and whom G-d has blessed, no man can curse (cf Numbers 23:8,20).

Later, the angel of G-d (Numbers 22:35), warns Balaam, “No, go on with the men; but you are to say only what I tell you to say.”

Read the rest of the Parashah to see how the story unfolds for Balak, Balaam, and Israel. Our Father is intentional about His children.

Shabbat Shalom Family.