A Relationship with God

While studying the Bible last evening, our Life Group leader dwelt on the aspect of relationship with God and the power of intercession. While drawing attention to the fact that a strong relationship with God always precedes effective, powerful intercession the passage that we focused on was on Abraham’s conversation with God (Gen. 18:16-33). At the end of the study, the Lord highlighted to my heart four critical elements that brought out the greatness of Abraham’s relationship with God—elements that we too would do well to pursue if we want to have a strong vibrant relationship with our heavenly Father while being effective intercessors before His Holy throne of mercy.

One of the first things we see in these verses is the friendship that Abraham enjoyed with God. So close was this friendship that the Lord asked, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do?” (Gen. 18:17) James refers to this friendship in his letter (Jas. 2:23). What is it that Abraham had that made him a friend of God? James connects this friendship with Abraham’s faith and his obedience to God as a result of that faith (Jas. 2:22). Our Lord Jesus said plainly, “You are My friends if you do what I command you.” (Jn. 15:14) So from these passages we understand that we too can be a friend of God if we have faith that trusts in and clings to God with exemplified lives—a faith that shows in our obedience to God’s will and His commands.

The second thing that comes through in the conversation between the Lord and the patriarch was his reverence for God. This aspect does not just come through once but repeatedly in verses 27, 30, 31 and 32. Though Abraham had a close friendship with God, he always kept before him the fact that he was talking to the Most High God, Possessor of heaven and earth. He knew that the One he was with was unlike any other. His friend was the Holy, Holy, Holy YHWH Tse’va’ot; the exalted, far above all else, eternal LORD GOD of angel armies and he was not going to treat that casually. 

Oh that we too may learn the importance of coming to God with reverence. Much too often I have seen people attend to phone calls at a prayer meeting; walk out of the room while God is speaking through His servants as they deliver His word; sip coffee while in the presence of God, singing songs of praise to Him who alone is worthy and worshiping Him who alone can receive glory. We would not do such things if we were with so-called high and important men in the world, say if we were with the President of a country, or a judge in the court, or our boss in the office—yet we have the audacity to take lightly the reverence that is due to the Most High God. I make a hundred little prayers each day to God. My mind is constantly on the things that are above where Christ is seated. Most times, even when brushing my teeth, I reflect on God and make short prayers of trust in Him. I don’t call that irreverence. But there is a place that we reserve as sacred space—and times of prayer or time with God and His word or times with the Church, the body of Christ are such sacred spaces. They are places where we expect God to meet with us and often His presence is noticeable. Shall we then stand in His presence irreverentially?

The third element that comes through in Abraham’s time with God was his attitude of always wanting to be in God’s presence. This man who was nearly a hundred years old just did not want to leave God. We first see this in Gen. 18:16 and then in Gen. 18:33. The Lord had just given Abraham a promise saying that “at the appointed time I will return to you, at this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son.” (Gen. 18:14) It was such a joyous moment for this couple. Finally after years of waiting, they now had a definite time from God. Abraham could have easily said goodbye to the Lord as they rose to leave, so that he could savour the good news of the promise with Sarah. But no! Abraham wanted to be with the Lord until the Lord left. Is our relationship with God so dear that we always linger with our Beloved? Brother Lawrence once said, “There is not in the world a way of life more sweet, more delightful than continual converse with God.” I desire this and ask that it would increase in me continually.

The fourth aspect that comes through in the passage in Genesis 18 is that Abraham knew the God he worshipped. He did not just know about God. He knew God. He knew God to be the Righteous One who would not slay the righteous with the wicked (Gen. 18:25a). He knew that the Judge of all the earth was just and that He would deal justly with all (Gen. 18:25b). He knew his God was a God full of mercy and overflowing with compassion. It was this knowledge that gave Him boldness to ‘negotiate’ with God. It was because he knew his God that Abraham could intercede with the Most High accordingly. His pleading for the salvation of men from God’s wrath revolved around the nature of God. Is there a lesson we too can learn from Abraham when we come before God as intercessors?

Only Thou can help us O God. Our eyes look to Thee for help to walk with Thee the way Abraham did. Lead us dear Father that our relationship with Thee would not only be strong, vibrant and very meaningful but that it would be a precursor to us being impactful intercessors before Thy throne.