The Scrolls is a weekly Bible study written by pastors and other leaders at Central Bible Church, based on that week’s sermon topic. Use The Scrolls as a personal Bible study tool, for family devotions, and for small group discussions. You can read part of it below. The downloadable PDF also includes discussion questions, more in-depth commentary, end notes, and a kids’ page designed for families to study the topic together. This lesson goes with the sermon " When God Is Your Friend."
The Central Belief, Personal God, suggests that God is a friend. A couple of passages suggest as much. According to Exodus 33:11, “The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend,” suggesting that the Lord was Moses’ friend. And according to James 2:23, “And the scripture was fulfilled that says, ‘Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness, and he was called God’s friend,” stating that the Lord was Abraham’s friend—even as Jehoshaphat had said (2Chr 20:7) and the Lord himself had said (Isa 41:8).
A number of proverbs regarding “friends” suggest the implications of friendship with God. Proverbs 17:17 reads: “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.” One commentator explains: “The friend is represented as always present, in good times and bad; the relative only in adversity. A friend rejoices and weeps with you (Rom. 12:15); a relative functions more as a safety net. But even in adversity the friend’s spiritual ties are better and stronger than blood ties (18:24 and 27:10)”
(Bruce K. Waltke, The Book of Proverbs: Chapters 15-31, NICOT, 57). As the commentator notes, Proverbs 18:24 echoes the same theme. It reads: “One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” The apocryphal book of Ecclesiasticus (aka the book of Sirach or just Sirach) expresses the thought of verse 24 this way: “There is a friend who is a table companion but will not stand by you in your day of trouble” (6:10). The same commentator has this to say about Proverbs 18:24: “The comparative closer than a brother (mē’āh; see 18:19) uses the blood relative as a basis of comparison for sticking to someone through thick and thin but which the subject has to an even greater degree (see 17:17) . . . A friend more loyal than a brother is needed because even a brother inwardly ‘hates’ a poor relative (19:7)” (Waltke, 97). All of this suggests that the person who has God as their friend is truly blessed.
The stated “friends” of God in the Old Testament are only two, Abraham and Moses. Friendship with God seems to connote a level of intimacy enjoyed by few. However, in the New Testament friendship with God, more specifically Christ, is enjoyed by many. Note Jesus’ words to his disciples in John 15:12-17. “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other.”
Perhaps Jesus’ words apply to his disciples only, namely, the Twelve minus Judas, but a few observations suggest he has a broader audience in view. He is about to lay down his life for his “friends,” and of course, he died for more than just those in the upper room. Besides, more than just the eleven will know their “master’s business” in the future. Furthermore, Jesus made known everything he learned from his Father to more than just the disciples. What’s more, his command to “love each other” applies to all believers as John’s three epistles indicate. His most telling comment, however, is this: “You are my friends if you do what I command.” Friendship, intimacy if you will, with Jesus is available to all of his disciples who keep his commands. Another commentator writes: “Jesus now calls his disciples ‘friends’ (15:14-15) to distinguish them from servants, who do not know the deeper thoughts of their masters. What characterizes such friends is that they obey him. In the Old Testament both Abraham (2 Chron. 20:7; Isa. 41:8; cf. Jas. 2:23) and Moses (Ex. 33:11) are called friends of God. This title is unusual and speaks of the highest relationship possible between God and a human being. This friendship is not our doing; rather, Jesus chooses us as friends (15:16a), which gives us tremendous security that his affection for us will not disappear” (Gary M. Burge, The NIV Application Commentary: John, 419).
Central Message of the Text
Although sin affects our experience of God’s presence, it neither threatens the fulfillment of his promises nor precludes our worship of him.
Family Talk
My husband is a Star Trek fan. A few years ago, I picked up a board book of opposites featuring Star Trek pictures even though our kids had long outgrown the board book phase. There are classic pictures of our favorite characters showing angry and happy, hot and cold, big and little. We always get a kick out of the tribble page showing one and many (Google it!). Kids should understand the concept of opposites around four years of age. So, why does it take adults so long to grasp such a simple principle? The opposite of obedience is disobedience, and in many cases, there’s no grey area. The Israelites in our text today offer a classic tale of opposites for every adult to consider. Going against God is disobedience; following His commands is obedience, and the results are vastly different. It’s like turning a page in a child’s board book of opposites —honoring God, not honoring God. We like to pretend what we’re doing is so innocuous, yet when we turn from God, He is deeply, deeply grieved and the result is devastating. Though His love is steadfast, and He is long-suffering, though He holds us in the palm of His hand, God allows us to experience the consequences of our sin, and like any good father, I’d be willing to bet it hurts Him more than it hurts us. Our kids need to hear the Israelites’ story as well as our own. They need a front row seat to our mistakes, growth and God’s sweet redemption. This week, invite your kids into your journey. Model for them how to humbly walk with God