The Lesson of Balam, Balaak, and HaShem

Apparently, there is another theological point to the story, another reason for the seeming participation of the Holy One, blessed be He, in the game:  to bless Israel.   Reading Exodus and Numbers, as well as Moses’ admonishments in Deuteronomy, gives the impression that the Israelites who were taken out of Egypt were a nation of sinners and complainers.  One could, however, take a different perspective, bearing in mind that these events occurred over the course of forty years.