Abraham: “a friend of God”! (James 2:23) He believed God. He obeyed God. Why? Because Abraham rightfully viewed God high above and set apart from anyone or anything else.
As Abraham was following God’s command to offer Isaac, we read. . .
“(9) When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. (10) Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. (11) But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, ‘Abraham, Abraham!’ And he said, ‘Here am I.’ (12) He said, ‘Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.’” (Genesis 22:9-12 ESV)
God’s request for Abraham to offer his son Isaac — the son of the promise of God and the link to the blessing of future peoples — must have been a bit confusing to him to say the least. However, since Abraham had a reverential fear for God, he was willing to completely submit to His Will. This was the foundation of Abraham’s unwavering faith in God. To Abraham, God was Sovereign. God was the focus of his life worship. Whatever God asked, Abraham, in fear, was ready to carry out, whether he completely understood or not. That is the high sign of allowing God to have His rightful place of supreme sovereignty in connection with a life.
What place does God hold in connection with our life? We must recognize, when it comes to friendship with God, there is no middle ground. A choice must be made between friendship with the world and that with God. (note James 4:4)
Solomon summed up what should be our foundational focus in these words:
“(13) The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. (14) for God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 ESV)
The “whole duty of man”; fearing God and keeping His commands. Is our life summed up in the sense we are allowing God to be God, having complete sovereignty over our life? No wonder Abraham was called “a friend of God.” May we always seek to allow God to have His rightful place in connection with our life!
Have a great day GIVING GOD THE REVERENCE HE IS DUE!
Carl
