The Friend of God

Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” So Abram went, as the LORD had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people that they had acquired in Haran, and they set out to go to the land of Canaan. When they came to the land of Canaan, Abram passed through the land to the place at Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built there an altar to the LORD, who had appeared to him. From there he moved to the hill country on the east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. And there he built an altar to the LORD and called upon the name of the LORD. And Abram journeyed on, still going toward the Negeb. (Genesis 12:1-9 ESV). The story of Abraham’s beginning is one that clearly shows the flow of God’s grace to he and his family. God came to him and directed him to go to a new country where he and his family would receive great blessing. He was not chosen because of anything he had done, though what he would do in the future would be a direct result of God’s choice upon him. This is not to say that Abraham was devoid of his will. He did respond and later it would result in a title that would become synonymous with the followers of Christ. He would be called the “friend of God.” Friendship is so often misunderstood. Friendship requires that one sacrifice his own interest, life style and even future prospects to come closer to another person. Becoming a good friend is not easy when we think of life as we know it. The characteristics for becoming a friend of God are identical. This principle is exemplified in the life of Abraham. Within a period of forty years God appeared to Abraham ten times. At every appearance he revealed a new secret of this divine friendship. Abraham accepted that willingly. At the first appearance God told him to leave his country, kindred and father’s house. It was a costly directive but he did not hesitate. This new relationship with God gave Abraham joy, all God’s blessings and the knowledge of his purpose in history and the created order. The same status is available to us also. Jesus said, “I do not call you servants but I have called you friends.” (cf. John 15). As in the case of Abraham God wants to honor his friendship with us by his promise, “I will bless you… you will be a blessing.” It is a cycle that begins and ends in the mid and heart of God. Trust yourself to that call today.