The Friend of God
A biblical motif of intimate divine-human relationship.
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The title 'Friend of God' is applied to Abraham in 2 Chronicles 20:7, where God is addressed as the one who gave the land to 'Abraham thy friend.' This designation reflects a unique relational status, also echoed in Exodus 33:11, where the Lord spoke to Moses 'face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend.' In John 15:15, Jesus redefines his disciples as friends, saying, 'I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.' These passages together portray a motif of intimate divine-human friendship based on revelation and covenant.
Lore & Background
The concept of being a friend of God appears most explicitly in 2 Chronicles 20:7, where Abraham is called 'thy friend' in a prayer to God. This echoes the earlier narrative in Exodus 33:11, where Moses is described as one with whom God spoke 'face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend,' indicating a level of direct, personal communication not granted to others. In the New Testament, John 15:15 extends this friendship to Jesus' followers, based on his sharing all that he heard from the Father. Other passages show human friendships that mirror or contrast with this divine ideal. For instance, in Job 2:11, Job's three friends come to mourn and comfort him, yet later in Job 16:20, Job laments, 'My friends scorn me.' Similarly, in 2 Samuel 15:37 and 16:16, Hushai is called 'David's friend,' but his loyalty is tested when he pretends to side with Absalom. These human friendships often involve betrayal or misunderstanding, highlighting the unique faithfulness of God's friendship. The motif also appears in warnings: Deuteronomy 13:6 cautions against a friend who entices one to serve other gods, showing that even close relationships can lead astray. In contrast, the friendship of God is portrayed as a source of revelation and steadfastness, as seen in the examples of Abraham, Moses, and ultimately Jesus' disciples.
Reader's Guide
The passages portray the Friend of God as a person who receives special divine communication and favor. In Exodus 33:11, Moses' friendship with God is marked by face-to-face conversation, a privilege not extended to others. Abraham's friendship in 2 Chronicles 20:7 is linked to God's covenant promise of land. In John 15:15, Jesus makes his disciples friends by revealing everything he heard from the Father, emphasizing that friendship with God is based on knowledge and trust. Human friendships in the passages often fall short of this ideal. Job's friends (Job 2:11) initially come to comfort but later scorn him (Job 16:20). Hushai, called David's friend (2 Samuel 15:37), deceives Absalom (2 Samuel 16:16-17), showing that human friendship can be ambiguous. The warning in Deuteronomy 13:6 underscores that even a close friend might lead one away from God. Thus, the biblical portrayal of the Friend of God is not merely a title but a relational reality involving revelation, loyalty, and sometimes testing. It contrasts human frailty with divine constancy, as seen in the faithful friendships of Abraham and Moses, and the new covenant friendship offered through Christ.
Did You Know?
- Abraham is explicitly called 'thy friend' in 2 Chronicles 20:7, the only direct use of this phrase for a patriarch in the passages.
- Moses is described as speaking with God 'face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend' in Exodus 33:11, a unique intimacy.
- In John 15:15, Jesus redefines his disciples as friends because he has made known to them all he heard from the Father.
- Job's three friends (Job 2:11) came to comfort him, but later Job says 'My friends scorn me' (Job 16:20), showing the potential failure of human friendship.