“He concluded speaking with him, and God ascended from upon Abraham” (Genesis 17:22). It is taught: One who departs from another person, whether of greater or lesser stature, must take his leave from him. From whom do you derive this? From Abraham.
On one occasion,23Genesis 18:1–3. Abraham was speaking with the Holy One blessed be He, when the ministering angels came to speak with him. He said to them: ‘Let me first take my leave from the Divine Presence, which is of greater stature than you, then I will speak with you.’ When he finished saying to the Holy One blessed be He all that he needed [to say], he said before Him: ‘Master of the universe, I must speak [with the angels].’
He said: ‘You may leave in peace.’24From this incident we learn that one must take his leave when departing from someone of greater stature. That is what is written: “[He concluded speaking with him,] and God ascended from upon Abraham.”25The Midrash interprets this to mean that God bade farewell to Abraham before leaving him. From this we learn that one should take his leave even from someone of lesser stature.
Reish Lakish said: The patriarchs are themselves the divine chariot,26God’s presence rests directly upon them, as one rides upon a chariot. as it is stated: “God ascended from upon Abraham,” “God ascended from upon him,” (Genesis 35:13) “And behold, the Lord stood upon him” (Genesis 28:13).27God is described as being “upon” the Patriarchs.