Christ, Our True Friend (Isaiah 41)

In reading Isaiah 41, I found a beautiful chapter describing true friendship and how there is no other friend greater than Christ.

Isaiah 41:8 — But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend.

What is a friend? I believe a friend is someone who listens to you, talks with you, thinks of you, cares about you, is kind to you, will tell you hard truths, confides in you, trusts you, is authentic and vulnerable with you. How can we apply these same qualities to become friends with God? We are all His children, which is the most important title that defines our infinite worth, but friends are chosen. How amazing to have the title Friend of God.

Isaiah 41:9 — Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called thee from the chief men thereof, and said unto thee, Thou art my servant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away.

Friends serve one another. And we see here again "chosen". To be chosen of the Lord because we serve Him and become His friend is a high honor.

Isaiah 41:10 — Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

Friendship goes both ways. In our friendship with God, He will hide our fear, be with us, strengthen us, help us, and uphold us. A friend is also someone who truly knows you. To know (Hebrew: yada) God is to enter into a covenant relationship with Him. Making and keeping convenants with the Lord bring us closer to Him and result in an eventual title of "friend".

Isaiah 41:13 — For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.

Imagine a friend going through a difficult time. It shouldn't be hard to imagine, as we all are going through something - that is the point of life. Is this verse not a perfect example of how to be a true friend? To mourn with those who mourn and comfort those who stand in need of comfort.

Isaiah 41:14 — Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the Lord, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.

The word "worm" here is used as a symbol of meekness and humility. Friends are vulnerable with each other, which is a form of humility and openness. As we are humble and accept the Lord's help, He will give it in abundance. He is a true friend.

Isaiah 41:15 — Behold, I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth: thou shalt thresh the mountains, and beat them small, and shalt make the hills as chaff.

As a friend, He will help us improve and do better in all things which are good. He will provide ways for us to accomplish the work ahead of us.

Isaiah 41:17 — When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the Lord will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them.

Friends don't forget friends, especially in time of true need. Christ will never forget us nor forsake us.

Isaiah 41:18 — I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.

And when we are thirsty, does he give us a cup of water? No, he will divert rivers to fill what was dry land for us to drink from. Indeed, He said, "But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst" (John 4:14).

Isaiah 41:29 — Behold, they are all vanity; their works are nothing: their molten images are wind and confusion.

Idols can never be friends, they are nothing. Why would we ever choose to focus our priority on anything above our True Friend and Redeemer? The natural man thinks without reason and urges us to love that which is if no worth. If we find ourselves pulled towards setting our hearts on idols, we can turn to Christ and trust in Him, and he will help us and give us a new heart.