Abraham was called a friend of God and so was Moses.
Not many people in the Bible were spoken of that way.
Jesus spoke of the disciples as friends.
He shared His innermost thoughts to the Prophets.
Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets. Amos 3:7
What were the attributes that those who were referred to by God as His friend?
Were they loyal?
Trustworthy?
Perhaps as much as humans are able
Humans are fallible
They let us down
Surely those humans that God referred to as friends let Him down
He is the only truly faithful friend
However much we want to be faithful, we are bound to fail
Jesus created friendship
He understands how important a good friend is
Some of the attributes I think of as important in a friend are:
someone who is loyal – being loyal to God
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13
Trustworthy – not sure we can be fully trustworthy
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. Proverbs 3:5
who cares about us – treasuring the attributes of God we know from His word
A friend is someone you can trust with the deepest treasures in your heart:
Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you. Matthew 7:6
who understands the things that concern us – caring about what concerns God
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9
who even loves us – loving God is loving others
Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
1 Corinthians 13:7 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Matthew 25:40 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? 1 John 4:20
who wants to spend time with us – us wanting to spend time with God
When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek. Psalm 27:8 The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. Psalm 145:18
who makes us feel good about ourselves – Noah was being a good friend
However, the Lord was pleased with Noah. Genesis 6:8
who wants what is best for us – hating the world is being a friend to God
Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God James 4:4
a friend tells us the truth – being honest with God
Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. Proverbs 27:6
helps us when we need it – we can trust Him, can He trust us?
From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. Psalm 61:2
who wants to defend us, protect us or stand up for us – Moses defended God
Remember, and forget not, how thou provokedst the Lord thy God to wrath in the wilderness: from the day that thou didst depart out of the land of Egypt, until ye came unto this place, ye have been rebellious against the Lord. Deuteronomy 9:7
seeks our good – let us seek God’s good and the desires of His heart
Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 1 Corinthians 13:5
One who cares about the secrets of our hearts, wants to hear what is important to us and treats those secrets with utmost respect
Jesus considered the ability to share His heart important:
“Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.” John 15:15 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. James 3:23
The sting of betrayal from a friend:
Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me. Psalm 41:9 But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss? Luke 22:48
To be called a friend of God is a great honor. I suspect the highest honor in all eternity because He knows every thought and every intention you have. He knows what you mean, what you meant to do or say or how you feel when you have failed Him. He knows your innermost thoughts and how much you have desired to be concerned with the things that concern Him that are all written in His word.
That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death. Philippians 3:10
Scriptural References:
And the Lord spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle. Exodus 33:11
Art not thou our God, who didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy friend for ever?
2 Chronicles 20:7
But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend. Isaiah 41:8