389) “And behold, the bush was burning with fire, and the bush was not consumed.” From this we see the Creator’s mercy on the wicked. “Behold, the bush burned with fire,” to execute judgment in her for the wicked,” “and the bush was not consumed,” meaning there was no destruction in them. “Burned with fire” implies to the fire of hell. Even though the fire appeared to Moses, who was righteous, the fire implies the fire of hell, the wicked. However, the “The bush was not consumed” means He did not perform extinction in them.
390) Why did this fire appear to Moses in a flame of fire, and not to the rest of the prophets? Moses is not like the rest of the prophets. Anyone who approaches fire, burns in it. But Moses approached and was not burned, as it is written, “And Moses drew near unto the thick mist where God was.” It is also written, “And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush.”
391) Concerning Moses, we should regard him with sublime wisdom. Why does it say, “Because I drew him out of the water”? It is to teach that one who is pulled out of the water, Hesed, does not fear fire, judgment. From the place from which the soul of Moses was formed, no other man was formed. He was improved by the ten degrees of ZA, as it is written, “In all My house,” in the Nukva, “He is trusted.” It does not say, “My house trustee,” which would mean that he is the trustee of the Nukva, but that he is trusted, meaning a trustee of ZA, which is above the Nukva. Happy is a man whose Master testifies to that about him.
392) It is written that never has such a prophet as Moses risen in Israel. Has not risen in Israel, but has risen in the nations of the world. And who is he? He is Balaam. Then is it said that in the place from which Moses was formed, no other man was formed?
393) As the liquid that comes out of a foul-smelling flower mixes with the good persimmon, so wicked Balaam is likened to Moses Our Great One? However, the meaning of the interpretation is that he rose in the nations of the world, and this is Balaam, where the works of Moses are above, in holiness, and those of Balaam are below, in impurity. Moses used the holy crown of the High King, ZA, above, and Balaam used the lower crowns, below, which are not holy.
In that very same way, it is written, “Balaam also the son of Beor,” the wizard, “They [children of Israel] slew with the sword.” Thus, he is called a wizard because his deeds were in impurity.
394) Here it means that there are upper ones and lower ones, right and left, mercy and judgment, Israel and idol worshippers. Israel use the high and holy crowns, and idol worshippers the lower crowns, which are not holy. Those of Israel are from the right, and those of idolaters are from the left. And in any case, the high prophets of Israel are separate from the low prophets of the idol-worshippers, the prophets of holiness from prophets that are not of holiness.
395) As Moses was separate from all the prophets in the high, holy prophecy, Balaam was separate from the rest of the prophets and wizards in the unholy prophecy below. And yet, Moses was above, and Balaam was below, and many degrees separated between them.
396) Moses contemplated and said, “Perhaps Israel will perish in this hard labor, as it is written, ‘And [Moses] saw their sufferings.’” Hence, “And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire ... and, behold, the bush burned with fire,” meaning they were enslaved in hard labor, but “the bush was not consumed,” meaning they were not destroyed in their exile. Happy are Israel for the Creator separated them from all the peoples and called them “sons,” as it is written, “You are the children of the Lord your God.”