Abraham: "The Rock"

Abraham, our forefather, is referred to in Isaiah as the rock.

Listen to Me, you who pursue justice,
You who seek GOD:
Look to the rock you were hewn from,
To the quarry you were dug from.

A lot can be learned from this week's parsha from our forefather, the first of our three forefathers, who set the tone, and example for what it means to be a leader. 

Firstly, in this week's parsha, we see the gentleness with which he conveys Hashem's message to Sarah that she needs to believe in herself to be able to have a child. 

When she denies having laughed, he said, "You did laugh," not an actual laugh, but a subconscious one, in other words, in the depths of your heart, you yourself were in a state of incredulity, not believing that you could be with child. You have to overcome that hump, and believe that it can really happen. 

Then, when Hashem seeks to smite Sodom, he refuses to do so without conferring with Abraham, because He knew that he would teach his children Hashem's ways "of righteousness and justice," and sure enough, when Abraham turns to Hashem, he calls Him out on his failure to act righteously and with justice. In other words, they were in sync, designing a better world together. 

Hashem then admitted he did not know how many righteous people remained in Sodom, and sent messengers, heavenly angels to find out; only, after the wicked intent of the city's inhabitants, from "young to old," became apparent, could Abraham go along with Hashem's plan. 

Finally, in the binding of Isaac, they walked together, both before and after Issac learned of Abraham's intent, perhaps unlike Hagar, who left Ishmael to die under the shrubs an arrow's distance away. Upon saving Isaac by listening to the angel and sacrificing a ram in its stead, Abraham then returns together with his servants to Beer Sheva, leaving Isaac to be escorted by angels (Targum Yonatan) to the dwelling place of Shem and Ever to heal; Abraham had a oneness, togetherness about him; his oneness of purposeness with Isaac became one that he shared with all of his servants, and thus, all of humanity.