Abraham Faces Famine Without Complaint

(Genesis 12:10) "And there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt." "Behold, the eye of the LORD is toward those who fear Him" (Psalms 33:18): this is Abraham, [as it says] "for now I know that you are a God-fearing man" (Genesis 22:12). "To those who hope for His kindness" (Psalms 33:18): this is Abraham, [as it says] "You will give truth to Jacob, kindness to Abraham" (Micah 7:20). "To deliver their soul from death" (Psalms 33:19): from the death decreed by Nimrod. "And to keep them alive in famine" (Psalms 33:19): "and there was a famine in the land." "Happy is the man whom You chasten, O LORD" (Psalms 94:12), and if he comes to be resentful, "and teach him out of Your Torah" (Psalms 94:12) [let him learn how the righteous accept suffering]. What is written concerning Abraham? "And I will bless you and make your name great" (Genesis 12:2); yet when he went out, famine sprang upon him, and he did not become resentful, nor did he cry out in protest, but rather "and Abram went down to Egypt." "He has given food [teref] to those who fear Him" (Psalms 111:5): He gave confusion [teruf] to those who fear Him in this world, but in the world to come "He will remember His covenant forever" (Psalms 111:5). What is written concerning Abraham? "And I will make your name great," etc. There are ten kinds of famine, etc.