We read about how Bilam was hired to curse Bnei Yisrael and how HaShem made miracles [donkey talking, etc.] to prevent Bilam from cursing us. But, it’s not so clear that we knew this was going on at the time; how were Bnei Yisrael supposed to know that a ‘professional curser’ was coming to curse them? In fact, there is at least one opinion that Bnei Yisrael did not find out about this until after the event. Here is a poignant message – sometimes HaShem saves us from our enemies without us even realising it! We say in tehillim 117 (and hallel) ‘all the nations will praise HaShem for the kindness He has done to us (the Jews)’. Asks the Brisker Rav; why is it that specifically the non-Jews are praising HaShem for the kindness He shows to us? He answers that often the non-Jews had plotted against the Jews, and HaShem prevented these plans from coming to fruition.
Thus, the non-Jews were in the best position to recognise HaShem’s kindness to us, but we – who didn’t even know there was a plot, let alone that it was foiled – would not realise what was done to be able to thank HaShem for it. Such is the extent of HaShem’s Chesed to us.
