GOD NOT ONLY spoke to Abraham but also considered him a friend. Genesis 18:19 says, “For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.”
The phrase “I know him” in this verse means God knew Abraham as an acquaintance, a familiar friend, and a kinsman. God referred to Abraham as a familiar friend. What kind of relationship do you have with God? Do you consider God a friend? Does God consider you a friend? These are important questions to ponder.
Abraham is an example for us to follow. If we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and are living according to God’s Word, it is possible for us to have the kind of relationship with God that Abraham had.
We can talk to God heart to heart as Abraham did.
In Genesis 18:20, God and Abraham began sharing their hearts with one another. God told Abraham that He was going to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham bargained with God to try to save those wicked cities for the sake of his nephew Lot and his family.
Genesis 18:23–33 (NIV)
23 Abraham approached him [God] and said, “Will you sweep away both the righteous and the wicked?
24 Suppose you find fifty righteous people living there in the city—will you still sweep it away and not spare it for their sakes?
25 Far be it from you to do such a thing—to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?”
26 The Lord said, “If I find fifty righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake.”
27 Then Abraham spoke up again. “Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, though I am nothing but dust and ashes,
28 What if the number of the righteous is five less than fifty? Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five people?” “If I find forty-five there,” he said, “I will not destroy it.”
29 Once again he spoke to him, “What if only forty are found there?” He said, “For the sake of forty, I will not do it.”
30 Then he said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak. What if only thirty can be found there?” He answered, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.”
31 Abraham said, “Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, what if only twenty can be found there?” He said, “For the sake of twenty, I will not
destroy it.”
32 Then he said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak just once more. What if only ten can be found there?” He answered, “For the sake of ten, I will not
destroy it.”
33 When the Lord had finished speaking with Abraham, he left, and Abraham returned home.
In this passage, we see Abraham bargaining with God. When the Lord said He was going to destroy the city, Abraham said, “Wait a minute. There might be some righteous people living there. If there are 50 righteous people, will you spare the city?”
There is no genuine relationship unless you can communicate heart-to-heart
The Lord said, “Okay. If there are 50 righteous people there, I will spare it.” Abraham got a little bolder and kept lowering the number until the Lord agreed to spare the city if just 10 righteous people could be found there. Evidently, they couldn’t find 10 because the city was destroyed, but Lot and his two daughters were spared.
In every relationship, each person being able to share their heart with the other person is a vital key. There is no genuine relationship unless you can communicate heart-to-heart.
Like Abraham, we can share our concerns with God.
Notice that Abraham and God talked with one another. God shared His plan, and Abraham shared his concern. As God shares His plans with you, are you able to share your concerns with Him? If you have a proper relationship with Him, you can.
In Genesis 18, God was willing to adjust His plans because Abraham was concerned about his relatives in Sodom. When God shares His plans with you, because you are in a covenant relationship with Him, as Abraham was, He will work with you concerning your desires in the situation. You are a spiritual descendant of Abraham, our father in the faith. If God worked with Abraham and altered His plan for him, why wouldn’t He work with you?
Abraham took advantage of the covenant he had with God, and so can we.
If you are born again and have a covenant relationship with God, you, too, are God’s friend.
Are you taking advantage of the covenant you have with God? Are you communicating with Him regularly? Are you spending time worshipping God? Are you discussing things with Him before you do them? Are you willing to follow and obey Him implicitly?
Determine in your heart today that you are going to walk according to God’s Word and live in a covenant relationship with Him the way Abraham did. Then you will receive the blessing of Abraham and be called God’s friend.
Kenneth W. Hagin
There is no genuine relationship unless you can communicate heart-to-heart.
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Kenneth W. Hagin
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