Abraham seeks God; call, promise, faith, circumcision

Later — that is, in the tenth generation after the flood — we find Abraham seeking God, returning to him and belonging to him because of the blessing of his forefather. According to the bent and desire of his soul he went through the world asking where God was; and when he was near to growing weary in the search, God took pity on the only one who sought him in secret. He showed himself to Abraham through the Word, as by a ray of light, and made himself known.

For from heaven he spoke to him and said: ‘Go out from your country and your kindred and your father’s house; come into the land that I will show you, and dwell there.’ (Gen 12:1) Trusting the heavenly voice — though already mature, seventy years old, and married — he went out from Mesopotamia with his wife, taking with him Lot, the son of his dead brother.

And when he had come into the land now called Judea, then inhabited by seven peoples of Ham’s race, God appeared to him again and said: ‘I will give this land to you and to your seed after you for an everlasting possession.’ (Gen 12:7; Gen 13:15) He also announced that his seed would be sojourners in a land not their own, afflicted and enslaved there four hundred years; and in the fourth generation they would return to the land promised to Abraham, for God had judged the nation that had enslaved his seed. (Gen 15:13-16)

And that Abraham might know not only the fruitfulness but also the glory of his race, God brought him out of his tent by night and said: ‘Look up to heaven and count the stars, if you are able; so shall your seed be.’ (Gen 15:5) Seeing that Abraham did not waver but believed with his whole soul, God bore him witness by the Holy Spirit in the Scripture: ‘Abraham believed, and it was counted to him for righteousness.’ (Gen 15:6; Rom 4:3) He was still uncircumcised when that witness was given. And that the excellence of his faith might be known by a sign, God gave him circumcision, the seal of the righteousness of faith which he had while uncircumcised. (Rom 4:11)

Afterward Sarah, who was barren, bore him a son, Isaac, according to God’s promise; and he circumcised him according to the covenant God had made; and Isaac begot Jacob. So the ancient blessing granted to Shem at the beginning was handed on to Abraham, and from Abraham to Isaac, and from Isaac to Jacob, by the Spirit who made them sharers in the inheritance. Therefore God was called the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. (Ex 3:6) And Jacob begot twelve sons, who gave their names to the twelve tribes of Israel.