Even Abraham, the patriarch of faith, had moments of doubt.
Our question comes from the Midrash of Philo, an exploration of the Hebrew Bible through the lens of the writings of Philo of Alexandria, a Jewish philosopher who lived in Egypt during the first century CE. Specifically, we’re looking at Genesis 15:8. After God promises Abraham the land of Canaan for his descendants, Abraham responds with a very human question: "Lord, by what shall I know that I shall inherit it?"
Think about that for a moment. God, the ultimate power, has just made this incredible promise. Land! Inheritance! A future legacy! And Abraham's response isn't blind acceptance, but a plea for confirmation. "By what shall I KNOW?" It's not a challenge to God's authority, but a vulnerable request for a little… proof. A little something to hold onto when the going gets tough.
Why does Abraham, the man destined to be the father of nations, need this reassurance? That’s the question that this particular midrash, or interpretive exploration, homes in on. What's behind this seemingly simple, yet profound, question? We're about to dive in and see what secrets it holds.