There are many great things said about Abraham in the Bible, but perhaps the greatest compliment of all is that he is called a friend of God (James 2:23). The place where he is called God’s friend is Isaiah 41:8. “But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend.”

Abraham is the only person, in the scriptures, to have received this compliment. That does not mean, however, that Abraham is the only one whom God would ever consider His friend.  Anyone who walks in the steps of Abraham might be called the friend of God. What are some of the characteristics that one must possess if he is to truly be a friend of God?

1.  Abraham was a man of faith.  The same passage in James where Abraham is called a friend of God first states that Abraham believed God (James 2:23). No man could ever be considered God’s friend without having faith in Him (Hebrews11:6). It took faith on the part of Abraham to leave his homeland and venture out on a journey, not knowing where he was going. The Hebrews writer said, “By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went” (Hebrews 11:8).

Abraham did whatever God said because he trusted Him. When God said that Abraham’s seed would be numbered as the stars of heaven, Abraham believed God and it was counted unto him for righteousness (Genesis 15:5, 6). It did not matter to him that he was childless and his wife was barren; God said it, and that was enough for Abraham because he was a man of faith. Friends believe in each other and such was the case with God and Abraham.

2.  Abraham obeyed God. Faith alone does not make a person a friend of God. Many do not doubt in the least that God exists and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. James tells us that even demons have believed in God (James 2:19). Satan knows that there is a God, but he certainly is not God’s friend. Why? He rebelled against God. He was disobedient and so he was expelled from the presence of God.

Abraham was different. His faith in God moved him to obey God even when the commands were not to his liking. When God commanded Abraham to offer his son as a burnt offering, he rose early in the morning to carry out the command (Genesis 22:1-10). Could there be a harder command than to kill your son and offer his dead body to the Lord as a sacrifice? God never intended to let Abraham go through with it. He was merely testing him to see if he would obey Him in all things.  Abraham passed the test. When God commanded Abraham to be circumcised, along with all his house, Abraham did not hesitate. He simply did as God commanded (Genesis 17:9-27). Abraham did not complain or try to rationalize why he should not have to do as God commanded. He simply obeyed. That was characteristic of his life. That is why God considered Abraham his friend.

3.  Abraham feared God. When Abraham showed God that he would obey him in all things by sacrificing his son, the response of God was “…now I know that thou fearest God…” (Genesis 22:12). To fear God is to give him the proper respect He deserves. It is to understand His power and unsearchable strength and to live accordingly. This Abraham did. No man can be a friend of God unless he has the utmost reverence for Him, for to fear God is the whole duty of man (Ecclesiastes 12:13).

Abraham did not shiver at the thought of God. That is not the kind of fear under consideration. Abraham was not afraid to talk to God or even to reason with Him (Genesis 18:23-32), but he always, without fail, gave God his due respect by trusting and obeying Him all the days of his life. That is what it takes to be a friend of God—believe, obey, and fear Him. When you do this, you will be a friend of God now, and you will be able to see your Friend in heaven after a while.