Abraham's Life as a Sign for the Fate of Israel

Rabbi Joshua of Sikhnin said in the name of Rabbi Levi: The Holy One, blessed be He, handed a sign to Abraham, that everything which happened to him would happen to his children. Abraham was chosen from his whole father's house; Israel too were chosen from the seventy tongues. It was said to Abraham, "Go forth" (Genesis 12:1), and it was said to Israel, "And I said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt" and so forth (Exodus 3:17). It was said to Abraham, "And I will bless those who bless you" (Genesis 12:3), and also to Israel, "May the LORD bless you and keep you" (Numbers 6:24). It was said to Abraham, "[And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you,] and I will make your name great" (Genesis 12:2), and also concerning Israel, "And what great nation is there" and so forth (Deuteronomy 4:8). Abraham was called "one," as it is said, "Abraham was one" (Ezekiel 33:24), and Israel too, "And who is like Your people Israel, one nation on the earth" (I Chronicles 17:21). Just as Abraham, when he came to the land, there was a famine in the land, so also Israel, when they settled in the land of Israel, there was a famine, as it is said, "And the famine was severe in the land" (Genesis 43:1). Just as Abraham, on account of famine, went down to Egypt, [as it is said, "And there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt" (Genesis 12:10)], so also Israel, as it is said, "And the ten brothers of Joseph went down to buy grain" (Genesis 42:3). Just as Abraham, when he went down to Egypt, the Egyptians provoked him, so also Israel, as it is said, "Come, let us deal shrewdly with them" and so forth (Exodus 1:10). Just as Abraham, four kings joined battle against him, so also Israel: in time to come the nations are destined to make an alliance against them, as it is said, "The kings of the earth take their stand" (Psalms 2:2). Just as Abraham, the Holy One, blessed be He, went forth and fought before him and slew his enemies, so also the Holy One, blessed be He, fights for Israel; in the time to come the Holy One, blessed be He, goes forth and fights their wars, as it is said, "Then the LORD will go forth and fight against those nations, as when He fights on a day of battle" (Zechariah 14:3).