D'var Torah: "HaShem came to Bilam and asked, "Who are these people going with you?" (Parashat Balak 22:9). Bilam, the evil master of black magic, set out to harm Klal Yisrael against HaShem's specific order not to do so. How could Bilam, who was very intelligent and highly aware of HaShem's absolute authority, go directly against HaShem's orders? When Bilam was conspiring against Klal Yisrael, HaShem asked him, "Who are those people accompanying you?" Bilam foolishly thought to himself, "There are some things that HaShem does not know! Therefore, I can try my magic against Klal Yisrael and HaShem won't know it." As a result of Bilam not strengthening his intelligence over his will, HaShem lead him to make a mistake. Since he did strengthen his wisdom, his wisdom diminished. He came to a foolish conclusion, and followed his own devious will. Ultimately, HaShem forced Bilam against his own will to bless Klal Yisrael.
Moral: There are two powers that drive man's actions: one is his intellect and the other is his will. If a person does not sharpen his intellect to overpower his will, he will be overpowered by his will, which has no sense of right or wrong. Conversely, if we strengthen our intellect to overpower our will, then we will have the power to master ourselves and walk the upright path.
Application: Envision the evil Bilam hearing HaShem ask him, "Who are these people accompanying you?" See him smirk to himself, "There are some things that HaShem doesn't know!" Note how his lack of effort to sharpen his intellect over his unscrupulous will, resulted in reducing his great intelligence to foolishness. Make every effort to strengthen your intelligence to overpower your random will. HaShem will save you from foolishness, and increase the power of your intelligence to act in accordance with sound ethical conduct.
(Based on the commentary of the Saba Kadisha of Kelm, Rab Simcha Zissel Ziv)
