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and undivided; Noah, like Enoch before
him, walks with God.6 This kind of prayer is
lived by many righteous people in all religions.
In his indefectible covenant with every living creature,7
God has always called people to prayer. But it is above all
beginning with our father Abraham that prayer is revealed in
the Old ~ Testament. Gods promise and the prayer of faith 2570 When God calls him, Abraham goes forth
as the Lord had told him;8 Abrahams heart
is entirely submissive to the Word and 145 so he obeys.
Such attentiveness of the heart, whose decisions are made
according to Gods will, is essential to prayer, while
the words used count only in relation to it.
Abrahams prayer is expressed first by deeds: a man of
silence, he constructs an altar to the Lord at each stage of
his journey. Only later does Abrahams first prayer in
words appear: a veiled complaint reminding God of his
promises which seem unfulfilled.9 Thus one aspect of the
drama of prayer appears from the beginning: the test of
faith in the fidelity of God. 2571
Because Abraham believed in God and walked in his presence
and in covenant with him,° the patriarch is ready
to wel come a mysterious Guest into his tent.
Abrahams remarkable hospitality at Mamre foreshadows
the annunciation of the true 494 Son of the
promise.1 After that, once God has confided his plan,
Abrahams heart is attuned to his Lords
compassion for men and he dares to intercede for them with
bold confidence.2 2635 2572 As a final stage in the purification of his
faith, Abraham, who had received the
promises,3 is asked to sacrifice the son God had
given him. Abrahams faith does not weaken (God
himself will provide the lamb for a burnt offering),
for he considered that God was able to raise men even
from the dead.4 And so the father of believers is
conformed to the likeness of the Father who will not 603
spare his own Son but will deliver him up for us all.5
Prayer restores man to Gods likeness and enables him
to share in the ower of Gods love that saves the
multitude.6 |
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