The Ancient Witnesses

Chapter 4: The Unfolding of Time, Part 1 • 129

Whose invisible grace he perceived all things to be ruled and governed. Therefore, Scripture teaches that Abraham, leaving behind the observation of the stars, saw God.” 21 “To see God is to know God!” I wrote in my journal. According to Bishop Ambrose, Abraham slowly grew to perceive God’s invisible grace which rules and governs everything. In the first place, however, the Bishop had asked how Abraham even knew he had heard the voice of God. His answer came from his understanding of the historical context. Specifically, the practice of astrology by Abram’s ancestors 22 prevented Abram from hearing God’s voice. Later on, however, his act of obedience in leaving his homeland enabled him to know God. In other words, Abraham could not perceive God so long as he was under the influence of Chaldean culture, but that changed when the Patriarch obeyed God’s call. Ambrose compared the Chaldeans and their false religion, astrology, with Canaan—the Promised land—as a place of humility, meaning true religion. For Ambrose, Abraham’s growth in grace was a process of discovery guided by God. I continued making notes in my journal until I saw my friends leaving by the front door. Going out by way of the library, I noticed more books by Ambrose and stopped to look them over. There was On Isaac, or the Soul, a book about Rebekah, Isaac’s wife, and her journey of conversion and growth in faith. Two other books— Jacob and the Blessed Life , and On the Patriarch Joseph —were about how these two patriarchs survived times of trial through the application

21 See previous note.

22 This, perhaps, is hinted at in in Gen. 11:27-28,