It's easy to imagine them springing forth, fully formed, ready to face any challenge. But what about the times before the heroism, the moments of vulnerability, the struggles that forge character?
Think about Abraham, our patriarch, the man who would become synonymous with faith. We know him for his unwavering belief, his willingness to sacrifice everything. But even Abraham faced moments of doubt, times when the world seemed bleak and uncertain.
"There was famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to sojourn there, for the famine was severe in the land" (Genesis 12:10).
A simple verse, right? But packed within it is a story of hardship, of a leader forced to seek refuge. The Midrash, the interpretive tradition, doesn't let us skim over these details. It dives deep, asking: what does this moment reveal about Abraham?
Bereshit Rabbah, a classic midrashic collection, picks up on this verse. It connects Abraham's journey to a powerful verse in Psalms: "Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, on those who await His kindness" (Psalms 33:18).
Is this just a coincidence? The Rabbis of the Midrash didn't think so. They saw a direct connection between Abraham's actions and divine providence. "Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him" – this, the Midrash tells us, refers directly to Abraham. How do we know? Because later, after the binding of Isaac (the Akeidah), God Himself declares, "For now I know that you are God-fearing" (Genesis 22:12).
But it's not just about fear, about obedience. It's also about hope, about trusting in something larger than yourself. "On those who await His kindness," the Psalm continues. And here, Bereshit Rabbah connects it to another verse, this time from the prophet Micah: "Grant truth to Jacob, kindness to Abraham..." (Micah 7:20). Abraham isn't just fearing God; he's expecting kindness. He's holding onto the belief that even in the face of famine, even when forced to flee, God will provide.
And what is the result of this fear and this hope? The Psalm continues: "To deliver them from death" (Psalms 33:19). The Midrash links this to Abraham's earlier escape from Nimrod's decree, a story recounted elsewhere in Bereshit Rabbah (38:13). And then, the final piece: "To sustain them in famine" (Psalms 33:19) – a direct echo of the famine that drove Abraham to Egypt in the first place!
So, what's the takeaway? The Midrash isn't just giving us a history lesson. It's teaching us about the interconnectedness of faith, hardship, and divine providence. It's reminding us that even the greatest among us face trials, and that it's in those moments of vulnerability that our true character is revealed.
It's easy to focus on Abraham's triumphs, his covenant with God, his legacy as the father of a nation. But the Midrash invites us to look closer, to see the human being behind the legend, the man who faced famine, who sought refuge, who nonetheless held onto his faith. And maybe, just maybe, that's where we find the real source of his strength.