No Words of Their Own

Bilam, a non-Jewish prophet, was summoned by the King of Moab to curse the Jewish people. He consented to go, but warned him that he can do nothing and say nothing outside of what G-d instructs him. In the end, Bilam prophesied the future glory of the Jewish people instead.

Our sages explain that when the Torah declares, “No prophet arose as great as Moses,” it precludes a prophet of that stature among the Jewish people. Among the gentiles, however, a prophet rivaling Moses did arise – and this was Bilam. Nevertheless, he was powerless to curse the Jews.

Today, G-d may have endowed some gentile nations and their leaders with power to harm the Jewish people, but though they may deliver threats, they can do nothing and say nothing to obstruct a Jew from carrying out his G-d given mission.