Let’s talk about Abraham.
Scarcely had Abraham settled in Canaan when a devastating famine struck. Now, famines aren’t exactly rare in the grand scheme of things. In fact, the legends speak of ten famines appointed by God to chasten humanity. According to Legends of the Jews, this was the second, the first happening in the time of Adam (Ginzberg). This one, however, was specifically a test for Abraham.
Think about it: God had just asked him to leave his homeland for this new land, and almost immediately, starvation sets in! But Abraham, bless his heart, didn't murmur or show impatience. He faced this second temptation as he had the first.
This famine forced Abraham to seek refuge in Egypt. He hoped to both learn from the Egyptian priests and, perhaps, teach them a thing or two about the truth. It's on this journey that something remarkable happened. As Abraham and Sarah waded through a stream, Abraham caught sight of Sarah's reflection in the water. Ginzberg tells us it was like the brilliance of the sun! He had never truly noticed her beauty before.
Now, Abraham, being the protective husband, knew the Egyptians were, shall we say, appreciative of beauty. So, he decided to put Sarah in a "casket" (some translations say chest or box) for her protection.
But trouble arose at the Egyptian border. The tax collectors, curious about the contents of the casket, began questioning Abraham. "Barley," Abraham declared. "Wheat!" they countered. Abraham, ever willing to cooperate, agreed to pay the tax on wheat. The situation escalated. "Pepper! Gold! Precious stones!" Each time, Abraham agreed to pay the tax.
Suspicious, the tax collectors insisted on opening the casket. And when they did, the whole of Egypt was illuminated by Sarah's beauty! Compared to her, all other beauties were like apes to humans, the story goes. She even excelled Eve herself!
Pharaoh's servants clamored to possess her, believing such radiance shouldn't belong to a mere individual. News reached Pharaoh, and he, completely captivated, sent an armed force to bring Sarah to the palace. He even showered the messengers with gifts!
Imagine Abraham's distress. He offered up a heartfelt prayer: "Is this the reward for my confidence in Thee? Let not my hope be put to shame!" Sarah, too, implored God, reminding Him of their obedience in leaving their home and kindred. "O Lord, help me and save me from the hand of this enemy!"
An angel, invisible to Pharaoh, appeared to Sarah, offering courage. "Fear naught, Sarah, for God hath heard thy prayer."
Pharaoh questioned Sarah, and she identified Abraham as her brother. The king, smitten, pledged to make Abraham powerful and showered him with riches – gold, silver, diamonds, pearls, sheep, oxen, and even slaves. He gave him a residence in the royal palace. In his infatuation, Pharaoh even wrote a marriage contract, deeding all his possessions, including the province of Goshen, to Sarah. The Midrash Rabbah even tells us he gave her his own daughter, Hagar, as a slave, preferring her to be Sarah's servant than a mistress in another harem.
But God wasn't having any of it.
During the night, as Pharaoh attempted to approach Sarah, an angel appeared with a stick. Every time Pharaoh touched Sarah, the angel struck him! And another miracle occurred: Pharaoh, his nobles, his servants, even the walls of his house, were afflicted with leprosy. He couldn't fulfill his desires!
Interestingly, this night of punishment was the fifteenth of Nisan, the very same night God later visited the Egyptians to redeem the Israelites, Sarah's descendants.
Terrified, Pharaoh sought answers. The priests revealed the cause of his affliction, which Sarah confirmed. He summoned Abraham, returned Sarah untouched, and apologized, claiming he had intended to marry her, believing Abraham to be her brother. He bestowed even more gifts upon them, and they departed for Canaan after a three-month stay.
Upon their return, they sought the same lodgings they had used before, teaching by example that one shouldn't seek new quarters unless necessary.
Abraham's time in Egypt wasn't just about survival. It was also about enlightenment. He demonstrated the emptiness of the Egyptians' views and taught them astronomy and astrology, knowledge previously unknown in Egypt.
So, what can we take away from this story? Perhaps it's a reminder that even in the face of immense hardship and temptation, faith and righteousness can prevail. And sometimes, a little divine intervention doesn't hurt either.