פרשת בלק
לא תלך עמהם... קום לך אתם... וילך עם שרי מואב. ויחר אף אלקים כי הולך הוא | כ"ב, י"ב, כ', כ"א, כ"ב
There seems to be some inconsistencies with the story of Bilaam and the servants of Balak. First, Hashem tells Bilaam not to go with them. Then, He tells him to go. After Bilaam went, Hashem became angry with him. Why? Hashem told him to go!
The עבודת הלב explains based on the dikduk of the גר"א, regarding the two words in Hebrew that translate to mean “with” - "עם" and "את".
There is, however, a big difference between these two words. The word "עם" denotes a solid connection between two things who become one “with” each other. As it says in Tehillim, "עמו אנכי בצרה" - Hashem feels our pain as if it was His, and in Koheles, "ראה חיים עם אשה" - which refers to the special relationship between husband and wife, who become "לבשר אחד". The word את"" is much less of a connection - two things that are together, but not closely connected. When the רבש"ע told Bilaam not to go with the servants of Moav, He said the words, "לא תלך עמהם" - do not go with (עם) them and be like them.
Later, when Hashem gave him permission to go, He told Bilaam "קום לך אתם" - go along with (את) them but do not form a relationship with them - just tag along. Bilaam, however, did not listen. "וילך עם שרי מואב - he went with (עם) them and connected to their evil intentions. As a result, Hashem became angry with Bilaam and was ready to destroy him.
We should all be zoche to form close relationships with our talmidim that emulate the relationship which Hashem has with us.
About the Author: Rabbi Yisroel Meir Rubinfeld
Rabbi Rubinfeld has been in the field of Torah education for over 3 decades and serves as an Executive School Consultant for Torah Umesorah. He provides an array of services to schools across North America, including teacher and principal mentorship, school and curricula evaluations, professional development and parent education.
Rabbi Rubinfeld's expertise includes classroom management and discipline, effective instruction, bullying, cultivating sensitivity in the classroom, impulse disorders (such as ADHD and ODD), and balancing the educational needs of mainstream and special needs children in the classroom.
Rabbi Rubinfeld is the also the founder and director of Torah Umesorah's Lilmod U'Lilamed department which provides professional development for teachers and principals throughout the year.
Rabbi Rubinfeld is a talmid of the distinguished Yeshivos of Yeshiva Rabbi Chaim Berlin, the Mirrer Yeshiva in Yerushalayim and Bais Medrash Govoha in Lakewood.