Redeemer, Savior, Friend In my Bible there is an outline titled – Names of God Jehovah-Jireh Jehovah-Ropheka Jehovah-Nissi hands Jehovah-Shalom Jehovah-Tsidkenu from God Jehovah-Rohi
The Lord will Provide The Lord your healer The Lord is my banner
Abraham & Isaac Moses-Bitter water Aaron & Hur hold Moses’s
The Lord is Peace Gideon-Seeing the Angel of the Lord The Lord our Righteousness Jeremiah-Righteousness comes The Lord My Shepherd
David-Psalm 23 – Protector
Then I began to search the Internet to see what list of names would come up. There were many, many more names and references all describing His character and attributes. There were names like Savior and Redeemer, but my favorite was missing in all the lists that I read. That name is simply FRIEND. Biblical scholars will tell you that there is point when the ministry of Jesus turns from a public ministry to a private personal ministry. We can learn all we want about facts and stories written in the Bible, but if you do not KNOW HIM personally, he is just someone you think you can benefit from. God is simply a “good idea” rather than a life giving, loving Savior. Some people “serve” Him with an expectancy that they will “get” something in return. They give and give, but soon become weary because nothing is given in return and some give because the source of their generosity is what they get in return. However, there is a huge difference between knowing Him simply as a Master and knowing Him intimately as a Friend. You can serve without true love, but you cannot truly love without serving. In other words, it is possible to serve without true faith. So what does Scripture say regarding the difference between servant hood and friendship? In Genesis chapter 18 and 19, we see Abraham move from a servant to being known as a friend of God. Both 2 Chronicles 20:7 and Isaiah 41:8 refer to Abraham as a friend of God. There is only one other person in the Old Testament that indicates a friendship relation with God and that person is none other than Moses himself (Ex 33:11). For the sake of keeping this short, please read chapter 18 of Genesis and keep your Bible open to that passage as you read on. You might recall that Abraham was feverishly looking for God to make good on His promise of a son that would inherit the Promise Land. As of this passage, this son had not come and the promise still lingered. Notice the actions of Abraham when the three men approached. Abraham recognized the Lord from the very beginning. Not only did this 99 year old man run; he bowed himself toward the ground as well. The first thing he asks is if he has found favor in the sight of the Lord. I wonder if he thought the promise would finally come. The next thing Abraham does is prepare a feast for the men. Even though he says he will just fetch a little water and a morsel of bread, he hastily prepares a full blown meal and then stands by them like a servant while they ate. I’m certain Abraham had “The Promise” on his mind since the topic of conversation was about Sarah having a son. This seemed ridiculous because both Abraham and Sarah were very old and the ability to have children had ceased with Sarah.
After eating, the men rise up and head toward Sodom as Abraham tags along. Somewhere along the way, there is a conversation between the Lord and Abraham that changes their relationship forever; a conversation that moved Abraham from servant to friend. Take a look at verses 17 and 18 of chapter 18. The Lord brings Abraham in close, like a friend, and reveals to him what He is about to do to Sodom and Gomorrah. I like what verse 19 says about Abraham; “For I have chosen (known) him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice, so that the Lord may bring to Abraham what he has promised him.” In other words, Abraham understands righteousness and justice (KJV Justice and judgment) to the point where he will command his household according to what is right and just. Notice how Abraham knew exactly what was going on. This is the quality of a friend in Scripture (John 15:15). He knew that God would destroy Sodom and Gomorrah even thought there is no mention of God telling him that. Abraham knew what Sodom and Gomorrah where all about; it was well known how wicked these towns where. Knowing righteousness and justice, Abraham took a stand on what was about to happen. The next few verses recant a plea bargain between Abraham and God. Verse 23 reveals Abraham’s heart concerning righteousness. In order to be right, God must not destroy the righteous along with the wicked. However, he understood justice (judgment) perfectly as well; all wicked must be destroyed. This intercessory conversation proves completely that Abraham knew what his Master was doing; The Master was setting Sodom and Gomorrah apart as an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly (2 Pet 2:6). As for the righteous, they will be raptured (called out in love) much like Lot. So the question remains; are you a servant standing by the tree watching or are you a friend sitting at the table eating? A servant stands by watching whereas a friend sits at His table.