<b>And the Lord went before them (Exod. 13:21).</b> Just as a man treats other men, so is he treated. Because Abraham escorted the ministering angels, as it is said: <i>And Abraham went with them to bring them on the way</i> (Gen. 18:16), the Holy One, blessed be He, accompanied his sons in the wilderness for forty years. And because Abraham said: <i>Let now a little water be fetched</i> (ibid., v. 4), as is written in the portion <i>And He appeared unto him</i> (Gen. 18:1), the Holy One, blessed be He, caused the well to appear for his children.