Philo, a Jewish philosopher from Alexandria, writing way back in the first century CE, thought so. He saw these narratives as having layers of meaning, a literal interpretation and a more profound, allegorical one. And in a text known as The Midrash of Philo, he dives deep.
Take the story of Sarah offering Hagar to Abraham so that he might have children. On the surface, it seems like Sarah is dealing with her barrenness by providing a solution for her husband, ensuring his lineage continues. She’s putting his needs before her own pride, right? Philo acknowledges this literal reading. He says that "in the actual letter of this statement it is the same thing to feel no envy, and also to provide for the welfare of the wise man who is her husband and her genuine brother.” This is a pretty straightforward understanding.
But Philo doesn't stop there. He asks us to look at the “inner sense of the passage.” What if Sarah’s actions represent something more symbolic? He suggests that Sarah, in her inability to “bring forth beautiful works deserving of praise,” turns to “the intermediate kind of study." In other words, when we feel inadequate in our virtue, perhaps we should pursue knowledge as a stepping stone. This pursuit of knowledge, Philo beautifully puts it, is "as it were the whetstone of the mind and of the intellect." It sharpens us!
Think of it like this: encyclopedic knowledge, that broad understanding of various subjects, can prepare us for deeper wisdom. It's like training for a marathon. You don't just wake up one day and run 26.2 miles. You build up to it.
Philo even addresses Sarah’s statement, "The Lord has shut me up." He points out that being "shut up" implies the possibility of being opened again "at a seasonable time." There's hope in that! It suggests that Sarah's (and, by extension, our) inability to achieve perfection right now doesn't mean it's impossible forever. It simply means we need to focus on "a milder kind of learning" in the meantime.
He illustrates this with the example of the Olympic games. Not everyone can win first prize, but there are second and third prizes for those who strive. Similarly, Sarah is awarded the "first prize of virtues" and the "second prize of encyclical study." It's a beautiful way of saying that even if we don't reach the highest level of spiritual attainment, we can still find value and growth in the pursuit of knowledge.
So, next time you're feeling stuck or inadequate, remember Sarah and Hagar. Remember Philo's interpretation. Maybe it's not about reaching perfection right away. Maybe it's about embracing the journey of learning and growth, knowing that even in our imperfections, we can find value and purpose. And who knows? Maybe that journey is exactly what we need to unlock our own potential for greatness. Just something to think about.