The Ancient Witnesses

128 • The Ancient Witnesses: A Journey to Discover Our Sacred Roots

the grace of baptism we are emptied of all sins and vices. Leave your father’s house … this must be understood spiritually since the devil was our father before the grace of Christ.” Ambrose thanked the old man for his insights, some of which reminded me of Justin Martyr’s teaching. “How did Abraham know that God was speaking to him?” the Bishop now asked his hearers. No one offered an answer, so Ambrose continued his teaching. “Before he was called, Abraham was unable to see God. This was because the Chaldeans, Abraham’s ancestors, looked to nature—the earth and the stars—for their gods. Indeed, they called the stars ‘gods,’ inasmuch as they believed that they exercised dominion from above.” 18 “As long as Abraham’s mind was perverted by the errors of the Chaldeans,” Ambrose continued, “he did not see God—for his people looked for God in things which are seen, not in things which are unseen. Now, we know that things which are seen are temporal, while unseen things are eternal. 19 God is not temporal, so He is not seen. Therefore, a mind which follows the teachings of the Chaldeans does not see God. Hence, Abraham did not see God at first.” 20 “When Abraham entered a new place,” Ambrose concluded, “not a country but the true religion suited to humility, for this is the meaning of Canaan, then he began to see God and to recognize Him as God, by 18 Ambrose, On Abraham 2.3.9. My paraphrase is based on the translation of Theodosia Thompkinson, On Abraham . Etna, CA: Center for Traditionalist Orthodox Studies, 2000.

19 See 2 Cor. 4:18.

20 See previous note.