FRIEND OF GOD

Written by Luz Leigh

16 October 2007

      In the book of James, we find a wonderful description of Abraham. In verse 23 of the second chapter, James says “he was called the Friend of God”. James had just finished his famous discourse on faith vs works or works without faith. He was speaking of how through his great faith in God, Abraham was prepared to sacrifice his long awaited son, Isaac.

      But we know God did not allow that sacrifice to take place. A ram that was caught in a nearby bush was used for the sacrifice. Now who do you suppose just happened to have that ram there?

      Have we by our actions, beliefs or faith shown how much we trust the Lord? Would we be able to take our child to be given up in death to the Lord? That is a hard question to answer. 

      Abraham had followed the Lord for many years, always believing that the Lord would fulfill His promise to Abraham that he would be the father of a great nation. The father of many children. Yet he and his wife Sarah were well past the childbearing ages and there was no child. When the angel spoke telling of the child that Sarah would bear, Sarah laughed. I would have laughed as well. But, the angel was serious. Soon Sarah and Abraham learned that she indeed would give birth to their child.

      Then…..here the Lord comes along and says to Abraham, “Go kill that kid”. (My words…not the Lord’s.) Because Abraham loved and trusted the Lord, he prepared to do just that. His love and trust earned him the most endearing title one could have….Friend of God.

      We sing a chorus at our church about “friend of God”. Would that not be the most wonderful thing to have said about us? That we are a friend of God?