"The finest jewels are most carefully cut and polished; the hottest fires try the most precious metal. Abraham would never have been called…"
Friend of God
"…if he had not been proved to the uttermost."
Genesis 22:12 – "And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him; for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me."
"Perhaps Abraham's height of faith and friendship seems beyond our little possibilities.
Do not be discouraged, Abraham grew; so may we.
He went step by step, not by great leaps."
Genesis 22:16b – 18 – "…for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven…because thou hast obeyed my voice."
James 2:23 – "And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God."
"It is no small thing to be on terms of friendship with God."
(excerpts from Streams in the Desert)
Obtaining Mercy 