Genesis Chapter 12 to 22 is about the “Cycle of Abraham”, which described how Abraham was the chosen one by God, in which He would establish the covenant with (CCC 72), and the strong faith demonstrated by Abraham throughout the chapters. “By faith, Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place which he was to receive as an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was to go. By faith, he lived as a stranger and pilgrim in the promised land. By faith, Sarah was given to conceive the son of the promise. And by faith, Abraham offered his only son in sacrifice” (CCC 145).
Although Abraham was not perfect and continued to sin against God, i.e. endangerment of Sarah in foreign countries by saying that she was his sister (Gen 12 & 20); listened to Sarah and took Hagar as wife (Gen 16) in order to produce an heir even when God had already promised him an heir (Gen 15), parting with Lot (Gen 13), allowed Sarah to torture Hagar (Gen 16) etc., God was still accompanying and teaching Abraham step by step in how to fulfil his salvation plan for humanity. This was “because Abraham believed in God and walked in his presence and in covenant with him” (CCC 2571).
Abraham’s heart was “entirely submissive to the Word” (CCC 2570) and he “obey in faith” which made him the “model of such obedience” (CCC 144). Not only was such obedience, total submission and faith pleased God, Abraham was also ‘rewarded’ by God with greater and greater blessing and promises each time, i.e. God blessed him with a great nation (Gen 12) to “multiply your descendants” and “by your descendants shall all the nations of the earth bless themselves” (Gen 22). Because Abraham embraced these divine blessing, that the history of salvation is inaugurated (CCC 1080).
Therefore, by faith, Abraham was recognized as the “the father of all believers” (CCC 1080) and “witness of faith” (CC 165). These were also the admirable virtues that God valued in Abraham that are applicable to us even in present times.
