In Parshat Balak (23:10), Bilam says something surprising:

“תָּמֹת נַפְשִׁי מוֹת יְשָׁרִים, וִיהִי אַחֲרִיתִי כָּמוֹהוּ”
“Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my end be like theirs.”

It sounds noble. Who wouldn’t want the peaceful, eternal reward of the righteous?

But Chazal expose the contradiction behind his words.

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Midrash Rabbah says:

Bilam said: “Let me die the death of the righteous…”
Hashem replied:
“Rasha! What are you asking for? To be like Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov in the next world — without living like them in this world?!”

Bilam wanted the reward of the righteous without living the life of the righteous.

He had nevuah. He spoke with Hashem. He had incredible spiritual potential.
But his life was driven by greed, ego, and personal desire.
He wanted greatness, but he wasn’t willing to live with greatness.

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Mesillat Yesharim Teaches:

“Man was only created to delight in Hashem and enjoy the radiance of His Shechinah…
And the path to that reward is through our actions in this world.”

The goal is clear. The reward is real.
But there’s a path — and we can’t skip it.

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The Lesson:

Many people want greatness.
They want a meaningful life, peace of mind, a legacy, or even Olam Haba.
But they aren’t ready to live the kind of life that earns it.

Bilam reminds us: Wishing for the reward without living the life is self-deception.

We all have potential far beyond what we see in ourselves. But it’s unlocked by action — by choosing Hashem, living with values, and doing the work of growth.

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So What Can We Do?

• Ask not just “what kind of end do I want?” but also:
  “What kind of life am I living to get there?”
• Instead of chasing comfort now and hoping for a great ending…
  Choose greatness now — and the ending will follow.
• Live like the tzaddikim — not just want to end like them.

Bilam had everything — spiritual access most people could only dream of.
But in the end, he was remembered not for what he could have been, but for what he chose to be.

Let’s choose wisely.