“There was famine in the land” – Rabbi Pinḥas in the name of Rabbi Ḥanin of Tzippori began: “Blessed is the man whom You chastise, Lord” (Psalms 94:12) – but if he chooses to be indignant [about his misfortune], “You instruct him from Your Torah” (Psalms 94:12). What is written in Abraham’s regard? “I will bless you and I will render your name great” (Genesis 12:2). When he left [his homeland], famine confronted him, but he did not complain and he did not become indignant.
Rather, “Abram descended to Egypt to sojourn there.”2This is what is meant by “You instruct him from Your Torah.” God instructs us regarding the proper response to misfortune, by the example of Abraham in the Torah. “There was famine in the land” – Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi began: “He gives food [teref] to those who fear Him” (Psalms 111:5) – He brings disruption [teiruf] in this world to those who fear Him, but in the future, “He remembers [His covenant] forever” (Psalms 111:5).
What is written in Abraham’s regard? “I will bless you and I will render your name great” (Genesis 12:2). When he departed, famine confronted him, but he did not protest and he did not complain.3Despite the disruption that the famine brought to his life, he did not complain, because he knew that in the future he would receive his just reward. Rather, “there was famine in the land [and Abram descended to Egypt to sojourn there].”