Thousands of years ago, God called to Abram and said, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you."  And God gave him four promises:

"I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you;
I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you, and curse those who curse you;
and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you."

Abram was seventy-five at this time and lived in the country of the Chaldeans.  In obedience to God, he left his home city of Ur to go to a country that God would show him.  Abram did not have a car and so he walked or rode on a camel.  He believed that God knew best, and so he obeyed God.   And that was one of the reasons why Abram was God's friend.

Abram's wife, Sarai, his father Terah, and his nephew Lot took their sheep and cattle and all their possessions and set out - but they did not know where they were going!  Somehow God led them and each night they would find a suitable place where they could set up their tents and camp overnight.

It must have been a very hard journey especially if you don't know where you were going!  They journeyed on day after day, and week after week.   All Abram knew was that God promised to show him where to go, and he believed God.  He was sure God would show him the way to a good country and God surely did!

Finally they came to Haran in a country called Mesopotamia (which is now Iraq).  Abram and his family were sad when Abra's father died here.   They then journeyed on again and eventually reached the land of Canaan which God had promised to Abram.  God appeared to him again and said, "I will give this land to your offspring."  So Abram built an altar and began to serve God.

Now Abram began to wonder about God's promise to him and Sarah.  They did not have any children, but God said that if obeyed Him they would have a son.  God doesn't always do immediately what He promises, but He will do it when the right time comes.  But God's time hadn't come, so Abram and Sarai had to wait.

And Abram did trust God and knew that the time would come for God to keep His promises.  Because he believed God, his name was changed to Abraham and he was called the friend of God.  Isn't that wonderful?  The name "Abraham" means "One who is the father of many people".  Abraham didn't have many children of his own, but the Bible tells us that he is the father of all those who believe God and do the things which please Him.

Did you know that God has other friends?  Yes, you and I.  If we love God and do what pleases Him, then we are God's friends.  In fact our best Friends are God and Jesus!  Do you know why?   Because they love us very dearly, and care for us and protect us.

I think that we should say a special thank-you to God and Jesus for being our best Friend, don't you?

God bless!