How would you react? Overwhelmed? Maybe a little puffed up with pride?
That's the situation Abraham found himself in, according to Ginzberg's retelling in Legends of the Jews. After witnessing the miracles that saved him, the entire kingdom wanted to pay homage.
But Abraham? He wasn’t interested in personal glory.
Instead, he redirects their reverence. "Do not bow down before me," he urges them, "but before God, the Master of the universe, who hath created you."
Think about the power of that statement. He could have accepted their adoration, cemented his own status. But Abraham, ever the iconoclast, points them toward something bigger, something beyond himself.
He continues, "Serve Him and walk in His ways, for He it was who delivered me from the flames, and He it is who hath created the soul and the spirit of every human being, who formeth man in the womb of his mother, and bringeth him into the world. He saveth from all sickness those who put their trust in Him."
It’s a powerful declaration of faith. He reminds them – reminds us – of God's encompassing power: creation, protection, healing. It's all connected.
Notice how Abraham emphasizes God’s role in the most intimate aspects of human existence – forming us in the womb, breathing life into us. It's not just about grand miracles, but the everyday miracle of being.
It's a beautiful reminder that true leadership isn't about demanding respect, but about inspiring it for something greater than yourself. It's about pointing others towards the divine spark within themselves and the world around them.