Abraham – The Friend of God

Abraham – The Friend of God
>>>>>Read Genesis 12-25 <<<<<

But you, O Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, you descendants of Abraham My friend. Isaiah 41:8

“Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God's friend. James 2:23

In Genesis 4 through 11, we see man’s rebellious heart leading him away from God as he invents ways to live comfortably in a cursed world. The record shows Noah’s descendants turning to idol worship and building cities where they can depend upon each other instead of upon God. At this point, we could ask “How will God ever get what His heart desires: men and women who know Him intimately?”

ABRAHAM! Abraham is the answer! God reached down and set him apart to become His friend. What’s more, he would become a living picture of what it means to grow in the knowledge of God. Abraham did not know God when he started out; he lived in a prosperous city, filled with every kind of idol worship. It’s probable that he knew very little, if anything, about Jehovah – the God who reveals Himself to man – yet, when all is said and done, God called him ‘Abraham My friend.’

There are many astonishing things in the Bible. Few of them, however, are more so than this –
that God should desire a friend. ~T. Austin-Sparks

We could learn many spiritual principles and doctrines through the study of Abraham’s life, but we will limit ourselves to discovering how God brought a man into such relationship with Himself that He is able to call him “my friend.” Other men in the Bible are described in different ways, such as “a man greatly beloved” (Daniel) and “a man after God’s own heart” (David); but “My friend” is exclusive to Abraham.

What does it mean to be a friend of God? It means that each friend is committed to the other; it means that God confides in you regarding His plans; and it means that you have complete confidence in God even when He does not explain why He takes you through difficult things. A believer who becomes the friend of God will gain great insight into God’s character. Abraham’s story is filled with revelation of God’s attributes, ways and purposes; but these things are not directly declared – instead, they are seen in His words and deeds – they are discovered as Abraham’s relationship with God progresses. Our own growth into friendship with God is just like this.

I would encourage you to take some time to read Genesis 12 through 25 a few times. You will get so much more out of the study if you become familiar with the story. In fact, you will be surprised at the details you will see on your own; look for something new each time you read it. The Spirit of God is an amazing teacher! Here are some things to notice as you read:

What is Abraham required to do so that God will fulfill His promises?
Note the conditions under which God speaks to Abraham – where is Abraham and what is he doing?
Note God’s silence when Abraham wanders from the place where God told him to go
Abraham’s altars (or lack thereof) are significant; notice what is going on when they are mentioned.
Does Abraham ever settle down in a house or a city? Who does? And what happened?
Compare Abraham’s faith in God at the beginning of his life with his faith in Him at the end.

God set Abraham apart to walk by a principle that the world had not yet known – that principle is direct faith in Him. God will let the world go its way, but He will have a presence upon the earth. This presence begins with Abraham, a man whose heart was not set on the world, or on himself. Abraham did not wake up one day filled with confident faith in God. His faith grew as he came to recognize God’s faithfulness to him. Abraham believed God against his own reason; against his own feelings; against the opinion of others; and against all human possibilities. Adam and Eve, in their innocent state, could never have learned what Abraham learned in God’s school – – it is a school of trials wrapped in grace.

Abraham and Sarah are not in the ‘hall of fame of the faithful’ (Heb. 11) because they were perfect examples of unwavering faith, but because they grew in faith throughout their lives as they looked ahead to the fulfillment of God’s promises. They were real people who needed time in order to grow into the deeper knowledge of God. Abraham learned to trust God to provide everything he needed ‘for life and godliness’ – and he learned it by personally coming to know the goodness of God through ‘His very great and precious promises.’ It was his personal knowledge of God (gained by revelation plus difficult circumstances) that made it possible to ‘escape corruption in the world caused by evil desire’ (See 2Pet. 1:3, 4).
***** More on Abraham in our next study ***** LJ 7/09