Readings: Genesis 12-17, Isaiah 40:27-41:16; Romans 4:1-25

The lives of Abraham and Sarah, father and mother of the Jewish nation, are heavy with a sense of destiny. There is something awesome about the glorious, global plans of the Lord being focused down and worked out through the imperfect, unsteady lives of a human couple, who laughed at the Almighty in disbelief and constantly tried to take matters into their own hands.

The Bigger Picture

Through Abraham, God unveiled the 'big picture' of his covenant plan – first for Israel, then for all nations and generations to come. We witness great promises being spoken over God's fledgling people; promises of land, blessing and covenant love. We marvel at the prophecy of a miracle birth (deemed impossible by both parents because of their advanced age), multiplying out until the people of God number more than the stars in the sky.

From this end of history, we can rejoice at this beautiful foreshadowing of our Saviour's miraculous birth, which has led on to him "bringing many sons and daughters to glory" (Heb 2:10). We can also testify that God is faithful to his promises: he has not forgotten his people Israel, who he chose "from the beginning" (Isa 41:4), but desires to uphold and strengthen them.

The Smaller Picture

Encouragingly, Abraham and Sarah were not just useful to God for achieving a broader purpose – he actually cared deeply about them as individuals. From the moment they set out for an unknown land, they lived in utter dependence on God, communing with him, walking with him and stopping periodically to wait on him, worship him and seek his face.

Patiently bearing their detours, wrong turns and doubts, God always encouraged, always affirmed. Painstakingly, he taught them that he alone can fulfil his covenant promises – that the things of the Kingdom are established "'not by might, not by power, but by My Spirit', says the Lord Almighty" (Zech 4:6).

Friends of God

Abraham's life was that of a faithful servant, a life lived 'in waiting' for the fulfilment of God's divine promises. But in Isaiah 41, God reveals another insight into their relationship – he calls Abraham "My friend".

This beautiful, intimate desire of the Lord to walk closely with us as friends echoes down through history. Thousands of years later, he stated this eternal desire again, when Jesus declared that "I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you." (John 15:15).

At this time, it has never been more important to walk closely with God and take up this offer to know his business and to share in his work – to live not only as his servants, but also as his friends. Let us not miss this amazing opportunity.

Author: Frances Rabbitts