God never unites His name with the righteous during their lifetime, only after their death, as it says, ‘To the holy that are [buried] in the earth’ (Psalms 16:3). When are they ‘holy’? When they are in the earth. While they are alive, the evil inclination may prevail over them. But when they are dead, God unites His name with them. Yet He did so to Isaac during his lifetime, for He said to Jacob, ‘I am the God of thy father Isaac’ (Genesis 28:13). Why was this? The Rabbis held that God counted Isaac’s willingness to die on the altar as though he had already died for God’s sake. Rab. Berechiah said: Isaac was blind, (Genesis 27:1), and one who is blind is as though he were dead, for he is hidden in the house, and cannot see the temptations that are without.
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Author: Tanhuma
Keywords: Devil, Satan, Evil inclination, Yetzer hara, Yetzer ha Ra, Yetzer ha Rah, Diabolos, Satanas, yetser hara, Yetser ha ra, Yetzer, Yetser, Temptation, Evil urge, Evil desire, Jesus temptation, Jesus tempted, Tempted by the devil, Tempted by Satan, Jesus tempted by Satan, Jesus tempted by the devil, Christ tempted, Christ tempted by Satan, Christ tempted by the devil, Internal temptation, Wiles of the devil, Fallen angel, Lucifer, Rebel angel
Bible reference(s): Gen. 27:1, Gen. 28:13, Ps. 16:3
Source: Tanhuma, Toledot, § 7, f. 46a.
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