We’re diving into one of those now, a glimpse into the life of Abraham, long before he was… well, Abraham.
Imagine a young Abraham, not yet the patriarch, walking the streets. People are buzzing, intrigued by his words, his ideas that are so… different. He’s challenging the status quo, questioning everything. And then he meets an old woman.
According to Ginzberg's retelling in Legends of the Jews, this old woman approaches Abraham looking for an idol. Not just any idol, mind you, but a "good and big" one, ripe for worshipping. Can you picture the scene? The hustle and bustle of the marketplace, the vibrant colors, and this woman, earnestly seeking a new god.
Abraham, ever the iconoclast, doesn't miss a beat. "Old woman, old woman," he begins, his voice likely laced with both concern and gentle amusement. "I know no profit therein, either in the big ones or in the little ones, either unto themselves or unto others." He’s not just dismissing her beliefs; he's trying to reason with her.
He then asks her about an idol she bought from his brother Haran – a detail that adds a wonderfully human touch to the story. "What has become of the big image thou didst buy from my brother Haran, to worship it?"
Her response is classic: "Thieves came in the night and stole it, while I was still at the bath."
Here’s where Abraham really turns up the heat. He doesn't let her off the hook. "If it be thus," he presses, "how canst thou pay homage to an idol that cannot save itself from thieves, let alone save others, like thyself, thou silly old woman, out of misfortune? How is it possible for thee to say that the image thou worshippest is a god? If it be a god, why did it not save itself out of the hands of those thieves? Nay, in the idol there is no profit, either unto itself or unto him that adores it."
Strong words, right? Maybe even a bit harsh by modern standards. But think about the context. Abraham wasn't just trying to win an argument; he was challenging the very foundation of her worldview, urging her to think critically about what she believed. He was planting a seed.
The story, in its simplicity, holds a powerful message. It’s a reminder to question the things we accept blindly, to examine the foundations of our beliefs. Are we, in our own way, worshipping idols that can't even protect themselves? It's a question worth pondering, isn't it? Especially in a world filled with so many shiny, tempting distractions.