Today we have our last look at Abraham. There is no better tribute to Abraham than to have recorded in three separate occasions that God called Abraham His friend.
(2 Chron. 20:7; Isa. 41:8; James 2:23)
I am not sure what you would like to be remembered for, but for me, I can think of no higher accolade than that the Everlasting God of creation should call me a friend.
The account is found in Genesis 18 when three friends come to visit Abraham, have a meal and discuss two cities Sodom and Gomorrah. Then they confided in Abraham what their intentions were. The master of the world took time to confide in a human being which He had created. (Yes I believe that God created the human race).
I read when Jimmy Carter was President of the United States, on several occasions he spent the night in the homes of common Americans, picked somewhat at random. It was an attempt on his part to show that he was in touch with the average American, that he understood the way we live and the concerns we have.
President is one thing, but God Almighty himself! This story encourages me like no other story in the Bible and I hope it does you too. We have already learnt that Abraham was far from perfect, repeating the same mistake, yet here it is so clearly laid before us that God still thought about Abraham as a friend.
What comes into your mind when the word friend is mentioned?
What are the attributes that would make a friendship with you?
There is a song that says “There’s a Friend for little children, Above the bright blue sky, A Friend who never changeth, Whose love can never die. Unlike our friends by nature, Who change with changing years, This Friend is always worthy. The precious name He bears.”
I have news for you! He is not just for children, He can be your friend too. Thousands of years after this episode the creator of the world came and told a group of men this “I no longer call you servants because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you”.
In a few hours after saying this, these guys, apart from one, would run away and hide at the arrest of Jesus. That did not change Jesus mind. He still called them friends and invited them into a unique relationship with Him.
Today He still does, whatever your failure(s), how you feel, your current circumstances, they matter not, you can still be a friend of Jesus.
In these different times I am facing, what encouragement to know I have a friend who sees everything, knows everything and is present everywhere. That is right. It is a constant union with Him. Abraham had a visit and Moses had a visit and many others we read about in the Bible had visits, but today God is not a visitor but a permanent friend as I read in Ephesians 3: 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. That is correct dwell, stay and the key to this is FAITH which is what we have talked about all week.
Forsaking All I Trust Him
Let me leave you this week with a song written by Carol King who expresses everything about a Friend. I hope like Abraham you can honestly say I have a FRIEND called JESUS.
You just call out my name
And you know wherever I am
I’ll come running, to see you again
Winter, spring, summer or fall
All you have to do is call
And I’ll be there
You’ve got a friend.