A Friend of God

Genesis 18:9-15

How often God speaks to us, through his word, through a sermon, through a child, or just into our mind and we ignore the message totally.  If you are Christian, a follower of Christ, then Jesus has called you his friend.  “You are my friends if you do what I command you.  No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have from the Father I have made known to you.” (John 15:14,15,)  The most common thing is for friends to talk, to seek each other out, to long for fellowship with each other, is that your relationship with Jesus?

Abraham was a friend of God, “and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness” – and he was called a friend of God.”  (James 2:23)  God had made a promise to His friend that he would have a son, and Abraham believed God and that action was counted as righteousness.  It’s been many years since the promise, Abraham had covered a lot of real estate and he was still waiting and hoping in the promise.  So the Lord is enjoying lunch with Abraham and his angels and the meal is about over, out of the blue, the Lord asked about Sarah.  This is the conversation, “They said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?”  And he said, “She is in the tent.”  The Lord said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife shall have a son.”  And Sarah was listening at the tent door behind him.  Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in years.  The way of women had ceased to be with Sarah.  So Sarah laughed to herself saying, “After I am worn out, and my lord is old, shall I have pleasure.”

A couple of side notes, where was Sarah, standing behind her man, out of sight but close so she would be able to help him remember all that God had spoken, or you might say she was feeling a little left out and wanted to hear all that was being said.  The second one comes from my pastor Ray Still, “Sarah had gone through the long nights of pulling the sheep skins off of old Abraham, yes, her hot flashes are long gone, she has forgotten what a period is by this age, so she laughed.”  That is not an exact quote, but it is close.  “The Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh an say, “Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?’  Is anything too hard for the Lord?  At the appointed time I will return to you about this time next year and Sarah shall have a son.”

Sarah lies and says, “I did not laugh,” for she was afraid.  He said, “No, but you did laugh.”  My first thought is, the gig is up, God’s going to show her what happens to those who refuse to believe what He has spoken.  How wrong, God has a plan for Sarah, and He has already stated it, so it is not about Sarah’s faithfulness, but God’s.  Jesus is our friend, even when we do not return the friendship.

Form the Back Porch,

Bob Rice