Gone with the Wind
For many years, Donald Trump was seen as one of Israel’s closest friends in Washington. So when he recently criticized Israel, called for restraint in Lebanon, and tried to make diplomatic moves with Iran, it caught a lot of people by surprise—especially those who thought his support was completely rock-solid. But while these moments can feel uncomfortable, they aren’t a reason to panic. The Torah taught us a simple but deep truth a long time ago: alliances between countries are never permanent. They change with time, circumstances, and interests. The story of Balak gives us a clear look into how global politics actually works, reminding us where Jewish people should always place their ultimate trust.
The Torah describes Balak’s political maneuvering very simply: “And Moab said to the elders of Midian…” But our Sages point out that this wasn’t a friendly chat. Moab and Midian were completely different nations that usually fought with each other. Yet suddenly, they were sitting at the same table. What changed?
The Sages compare it to two dogs that are constantly fighting. Suddenly, a wolf shows up. In an instant, both dogs realize: if the wolf takes out my enemy today, he’s coming for me tomorrow. So, for a little while, they put their hatred aside and team up against the bigger threat. This is exactly how international politics works. It’s not built on love or loyalty; it’s built on common interests. As long as interests align, you have a partnership. The moment they shift, the alliance falls apart. What looks completely stable today can easily disappear tomorrow.
We see this same pattern with Balaam. Balak hires Balaam to curse the Jewish people, but God turns that curse into a blessing. This didn’t happen because Balaam suddenly became a good guy, but because a deeper truth was being revealed: even the plans of the most powerful leaders mean nothing against what God wants.
This brings up a big question: If everything is directed from Above, and “the heart of kings is in God’s hand,” how can leaders be held responsible for what they do? And if everything is already decided by Heaven, why should they be punished for their choices? This classic question was heavily discussed by early commentators, especially when it came to Pharaoh. The Torah says God hardened Pharaoh’s heart, yet Pharaoh was still punished. How do those two things go together?
The Rambam explains a foundational rule: every person has total free will. Nobody is born a saint or a villain; we shape ourselves through our own choices. A leader chooses whether to take the path of truth or convenience, to stand by core principles or jump on short-term interests, to hold firm or buckle under pressure. They are 100% responsible for those choices. Those decisions shape who they are and drive their final actions.
The Ramban takes this a step deeper: God doesn’t force anyone to be someone they aren’t. Divine Providence works through the paths that the person has already paved for themselves. As the Sages put it, good things are brought about through good people, and bad things through bad people. When something good needs to happen in the world, it flows through someone who is already leaning toward good. When a harsh process unfolds, it goes through someone who already chose a dark path. But the responsibility always lands on the individual, because they picked their own direction. So, both things happen at once: humans have full free will, while God guides the bigger picture of history.
This realization completely changes how we look at current events. Of course political moves matter. Leaders make choices that impact millions of people, and the Jewish people have always prayed for the peace of their governments and shown appreciation to those who helped them. But at the same time, we can’t make the mistake of relying on them for our security.
King David said it plainly: “Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal man, who cannot save.” This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t make a practical effort, it’s just a reminder to keep our balance. There’s a time and place for human action, but you can’t lean on it as your foundation. Today someone is your friend, tomorrow the reality shifts. Governments change, interests move, and the world is always spinning.
But God never changes.
This theme repeats all through history. Time and again, we’ve seen alliances that looked unbreakable fall apart the second interests diverged. On the flip side, salvation for the Jewish people has often come from places nobody ever expected. History proves that Israel doesn’t survive because of powerful global alliances, but because of an unbreakable bond—our covenant with God. As the *Netziv* writes, the stories in the Book of Numbers aren’t just history lessons; they are instructions for life. When nations unite against Israel, they can only do what has been permitted from Above. And when God decides to bless us, nobody can stop it.
If everything is ultimately in God’s hands, our reaction shouldn’t be fear or anxiety, but stepping up our spiritual game. In unstable times, the Jewish people go back to basics: return to God, prayer, and doing good deeds. Instead of getting sucked into global worries, we focus on what we can actually control—Torah, prayer, kindness, and Jewish unity. These aren’t just nice ideas; they are a way of life.
The Jewish people made it through generations of exile and crumbling empires not because we always had powerful friends, but because God watched over us the entire way. That is a bond that doesn’t depend on the news cycle and never changes.
This gives us the perfect perspective on political friendships: be grateful when there is support, pray for the well-being of world leaders, but never build your sense of safety on them. The story of Balak reminds us that alliances between countries are based on what they need at the time, which means they are always temporary. Moab and Midian teamed up because of a shared threat, and when things changed, their alliance vanished. The Torah doesn’t tell us this just to recap the past, but to give us a living lesson for today.
