Parashat Balak Haftorah: Divine Kindness, Justice, and Humility

This Shabbat, following the morning prayer service, the congregation will read Parashat Balak in the synagogue. The accompanying Haftorah is the prophecy of the Prophet Micah, found in the Book of Micah (5:6–6:8).

"And the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many peoples like dew from the Lord, like showers upon the grass, which do not wait for man nor depend on human beings. And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the nations, in the midst of many peoples, like a lion among the beasts of the forest, like a young lion among flocks of sheep, which, when it passes through, tramples and tears, and none can rescue. Your hand shall be lifted against your adversaries, and all your enemies shall be cut off…..He has told you, O man, what is good, and what the Lord requires of you: only to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God."

Why This Haftorah Was Chosen

The Haftorah is a passage from the Prophets traditionally read in the synagogue after the Torah reading. It is chanted with its own cantillation and is preceded and followed by special blessings.

Each Torah portion is paired with a Haftorah that generally shares a common theme. The Haftorah of Parashat Balak begins with the words, "And the remnant of Jacob shall be," and was selected by the Sages because the Prophet Micah urges the Jewish people to remember the kindness, miracles, and wonders that God performed on their behalf.

Remembering God's Kindness

One of the miracles Micah recalls is the remarkable event described in Parashat Balak. Although Balak hired Balaam to curse the Jewish people, Balaam was forced to admit that God would not allow him to do so. Even after Balaam later advised the Moabites to entice Israel into sin at Shittim, God ultimately forgave His people.

More than that, despite Israel's failure at Shittim, God did not withdraw His goodness and assistance. He brought the nation safely to Gilgal and delivered the Land before them. Through Micah, God reminds Israel: "All this goodness I performed for you so that you would recognize the righteousness and kindness of the Lord, who acted on your behalf beyond what justice alone would require."

The Moment of Divine Anger That Never Came

To appreciate the magnitude of God's kindness, it is important to understand a statement found in this week's Torah portion: "God is angered every day."

The Sages explain in the Talmud (Berachot) that God's moment of anger lasts only an infinitesimal fraction of time:

"How long is His anger? A moment. And how long is a moment? One fifty-eight thousand, eight hundred and eighty-eighth part of an hour."

This teaches the extraordinary goodness of the Creator. His anger occupies only the tiniest instant, beyond human comprehension.

The Midrash adds that no creature could determine the precise moment of Divine anger except for the wicked Balaam. This is the meaning of the verse describing him as one who "knew the knowledge of the Most High." Balaam possessed the ability to identify that fleeting instant and intended to use it to curse Israel.

Micah refers to this when he says: "My people, remember what Balak king of Moab planned and what Balaam son of Beor answered him... so that you may know the righteous acts of the Lord."

The Talmud explains:

Rabbi Elazar said that the Holy One told Israel, "Know how much kindness I showed you. During the days of Balaam, I did not become angry at all. Had I become angry, not a remnant or survivor would have remained of Israel."

This is why Balaam ultimately declared: "How can I curse whom God has not cursed? How can I denounce whom the Lord has not denounced?"

The Sages explain that throughout those days, God withheld even that tiny moment of anger, thereby preventing Balaam from carrying out his evil intentions.

What Does God Really Want From Us?

The Haftorah concludes with one of the most powerful and enduring verses in all of Scripture.

After describing God's countless acts of kindness, the prophet asks how a person can properly express gratitude: "With what shall I come before the Lord? Shall I bring burnt offerings? Thousands of rams? Tens of thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I even offer my firstborn for my sins?"

The prophet's answer is simple, profound, and timeless: "He has told you, O man, what is good, and what the Lord requires of you: only to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God."

God does not seek extravagant displays. He asks for three fundamental qualities:

To do justice — fulfilling our obligations toward others, living honestly, and observing the moral standards that govern human relationships.

To love kindness — not merely performing acts of kindness when required, but actively embracing generosity and compassion, doing more than the minimum expected.

To walk humbly with your God — serving God with modesty and sincerity, without seeking recognition or honor. It also means cultivating a deep, heartfelt connection with God, a private devotion known only to the heart.

This closing message of Micah remains one of Judaism's most concise summaries of a life of faith: pursue justice, cherish kindness, and walk humbly with God.