Balak: Phenomenal Patience

"Rise and go with them…"(Numbers 22:20).
 
Balak, the king of Moav, has sent messengers to summon the evil soothsayer Bilaam, so that the latter will curse the approaching Israelites. At first, Hashem tells Bilaam, "You shall not go with them" (ibid, 12). Then later, Hashem says, "Rise and go with them." When Bilaam does go with Balak's emissaries, Hashem is perturbed. Two troubling questions arise here: first, does Hashem change His mind? And second, why is Hashem angry, when He gave permission to Bilaam to go?
 
Rashi explains that Hashem doesn't change his mind; He gives a person the free choice to follow the path of his desire.
 
The first time Bilaam asked Hashem, Hashem expressed His desire – "You shall not go with them". Bilaam knew that Hashem didn't want him to work for Balaak, yet he yearned for the honor and the fat paycheck that Balaak would give him. Bilaam clearly wanted to go. Therefore, in answer to Bilaam's second request, Hashem says, "Rise and go with them." Hashem hasn't changed His mind; He is simply giving Bilaam his free choice. In this case, Hashem is giving Bilaam a rope to hang himself. What's more, Rashi explains that when Bilaam saw that Hashem didn't want him to go to Moav, he craved to go even more. Hashem, in His phenomenal patience, sent an angel of mercy to discourage Bilaam and to prod him to reconsider. Like a bull in a china shop, Bilaam continues on his way.
 
What is the Torah telling us for posterity? When the great Day of Judgment comes, no one will be able to claim that they were forced to do good or evil. Hashem in His unfathomable patience gives every single person free will, for without free will, there can be no context of reward or punishment.
 
We see two other important lessons in the episode of Bilaam and Balak: first, Hashem's unbelievable humility; and second, Hashem's infinite love for His chosen people. How?
 
Once again, Hashem tells Bilaam that he may not go to Balak. Bilaam yearns to go, and despite the fact that his desire to go is extremely disturbing to Hashem, Hashem doesn't stand in his way. Bilaam, in his indescribable insolence, willfully transgresses Hashem's express command. A flesh-and-blood king would have beheaded Bilaam on the spot. But in the words of the Ramak (Rabbi Moshe Cordovero osb"m), Hashem is, "The insulted King, who patiently suffers insult in a manner that no mind can perceive" (Tomer Devorah, 13 Attributes, Attribute A). The Ramak explains that during the height of sin, when a sinner is using his body to openly rebel against Hashem, not only does Hashem refrain from taking immediate retribution, He suffers the sinner's insolence and insult, while continuing to give the sinner the abundance of life. Hashem continues to operate the sinners lungs and heart, giving him life and strength. In the words of the Ramak, "this is patience and weathering insult that no mouth can describe." We learn here that were it not for Hashem's humility, people could not have true free choice. No one but Hashem could be able to suffer such insult.
 
To help us understand the above concept, imagine that someone is robbing your house. You are both armed and you're an expert in martial arts. You can easily subdue the robber, yet you don't. Rather than shooting him or breaking his arm, you sit him down to the table and serve him his favorite dinner! What could be more unbelievable patience? That's exactly what Hashem does!
 
Despite the arch-enemy of Israel's free choice, Hashem performs miracles in order to ruin his evil designs in a display of limitless love for His chosen people. Just stop and think: Hashem suffers the insults of the evil and does nothing. Yet, when the evil make sinister plans against Israel, Hashem turns their curses into blessings, as He did with Bilaam. Just by observing this, our hearts should overflow with love for Hashem. Hashem is willing to let the evil rebel and transgress, blaspheme and desecrate while quietly suffering the insult. Yet, as soon as they threaten Hashem's people Israel, He mobilizes into action. That's how much He loves us, and a reson to jump for joy.