Midrash Tehillim, a collection of interpretations on the Book of Psalms, offers a startling perspective on the famine that forced Jacob and his family to leave Canaan. “And there was a famine in the land,” it states. Seems straightforward. Just a natural disaster. But Rabbi Judah bar Nachman, citing Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish, suggests something far more profound. He says Jacob deserved to descend into Egypt in chains! Chains of iron and collars. Whoa. Strong words!
But if that's the case, why didn't that happen? Why did God, HaKadosh Baruch Hu (The Holy One, Blessed Be He), allow it to play out differently?
The Midrash answers: God orchestrated a series of “plots and melodies,” ultimately leading to Joseph's enslavement. Joseph, sold into Egypt. A terrible act of betrayal by his brothers. But... was it? According to this reading, it was all part of a divine plan to bring Jacob down to Egypt.
Why this elaborate setup? Why not just tell Jacob to go?
Rabbi Pinchas the son of Chama offers a parable that really hits home. Imagine a stubborn cow, unwilling to be yoked. How do you get her to cooperate? You pull her calf first. The mother's love compels her to follow.
That's what HaKadosh Baruch Hu did, according to this Midrash. He orchestrated events—the "melodies" played by Joseph's brothers—to draw Jacob down. As it says in Hosea (11:4), “With human cords, I drew them; with cords of love..." God used love, that most powerful of forces, to guide them. Like one who eases the yoke, God bent down and fed them. A powerful image of divine care, even within a seemingly harsh decree.
The Midrash isn't shying away from the difficult questions. It’s acknowledging that sometimes, what looks like punishment or hardship might actually be a carefully crafted path toward something greater. It suggests that even Jacob, a patriarch, wasn't exempt from needing a little… nudge. And the famine? The apparent tragedy? It was the cord of love, pulling him – and his entire family – towards their destiny.
So, the next time you find yourself in the midst of a difficult situation, remember this story. Maybe, just maybe, there's a melody being played that you can't quite hear yet. A melody of love, guiding you towards where you need to be.