Scripture
So Sarai said to Abram, “Now behold, the LORD has prevented me from bearing children. Please go in to my maid; perhaps I will obtain children through her.” And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai. Genesis 16:2

Observation
It amazes me that Abraham built a quality friendship with God without a Bible to read. He had no Psalms to turn to, no role models to ponder, and no weighty theology from Paul to guide him. All he had with a journey, experiences and God. With this in mind, I find it amazing not that he blundered, but that he made so few mistakes in his growing friendship with God.

Yet Abraham made some colossal bad choices. He passed off his wife as his sister and he took his Sarah’s advice and had a child by her chief maid. Ouch. Those decisions cost him. Today, the strife in the Middle East can find its roots in this poor choice. Yet it was through these mistakes that Abraham learned to be God’s friend.

Over time, Abraham learned not to make decisions alone, but only in friendship. There were silent times, when God didn’t pop up as frequently. In those seasons, the voices of others became louder. Culture told him that it was acceptable to start a lineage through a slave. Sarah was chiming in too. It all seemed reasonable…without friendship.

Application
I want to come to a point in my relationship with the Lord, that I seek his counsel not with a hidden irritation that God is interfering, but in an excitement to plan together with my heavenly Friend the course of our life together. I want to live a life in consultation, not just to make good choices, but because I want a better friendship with God. Yes I do have the Bible to turn to, but if my Bible were taken away, what truth remains inside of me? That truth will marinate inside of me only if I seek my Friend in everything.

Prayer
Father, before I thought of friendship with you, you have been anticipating friendship with me. You never gave up on your friend Abraham. You returned to him even when he did not turn to you. What a Friend you are. I turn to you now as one just beginning to explore friendship together. I turn to you not because I want to make right choices that will bring me and others joy. I come to you because first and foremost I want to have friendship with you. Today we relate through the fog, through shadows, through symbols. But one day the voice I hear on the other side of the wall of eternity will become a face to behold and eyes to gaze into. I’m anticipating seeing you for eternity, so today I live with the reality that you are all around me. I don’t need to seek your presence. It is present with me. Your kingdom is all around me. I let it enter into me. Please expand our friendship together with Christ. Amen.