“God said to him in the dream: I, too, knew that in the innocence of your heart you did this, and I also prevented you from sinning against Me. Therefore, I did not allow you to touch her” (Genesis 20:6). “God said to him in the dream: I, too, knew…and I also prevented you from sinning against Me [meḥato li]” – Rabbi Yitzḥak says: Meḥato li – your evil inclination [maḥaton] is Mine [li].27It is under My complete control.
“Therefore, I did not allow you” – this is analogous to a warrior riding on a horse. The horse was running, and he [the warrior] saw a baby on the ground, and he diverted the horse and did not injure the baby. Whom does everyone laud, the horse or the rider? Is it not the rider?
So, too, “therefore, I did not allow you to touch her” – your maḥaton is Mine, [meaning:] Your evil inclination, which causes you to sin [maḥti] that corrupts you, is given over into My hand. It is I who prevented you from sinning. I drew you away from sin. The praise is Mine and not yours.