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A Companion Like No Other

Humans are designed to be social beings. It’s almost as if it is essential or vital that humans interact with one another. But, there are cases where people are alienated or isolated. Sometimes, people are forced into solitude and that can leave them to be lonely. If you want to see a Biblical perspective on loneliness then continue reading to learn about the companion like no other!

A Companion in the Garden

Before starting the topic, you must first understand that when you read God’s Word, it has a life of its own. And what I mean by this is that there are things which the Bible hints at but never really says directly. That’s because when God says something, there’s so much depth to it which He allows us to discover.

Genesis 3:8 World English Bible (WEB)
8 They heard Yahweh God’s voice walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of Yahweh God among the trees of the garden.

The above scripture describes how God seemed to be searching for Adam and Eve; it says that God was walking in the garden and that they could hear His voice. Can you imagine that?

I mean, just think about it. The picture painted here is that the God who made Earth along with all its splendor was walking as if He was a man. It doesn’t say He was hovering over the Earth or anything else which may sound spiritual. Moreover, it says they could hear His voice. God was talking here!

The Consequence of Disobedience

Genesis 3:9 World English Bible (WEB)
9 Yahweh God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?”

Furthermore, the next verse says that God specifically called out Adam and asked him, “Where are you?” He was searching for Adam and that must be because God suddenly noticed something strange. He realized something was wrong when he couldn’t sense the spiritual glory upon Adam, it had been cut out as soon as Adam ate the forbidden fruit of the knowledge of good and evil.

As the story goes on, we find that Adam and Eve finally answer God’s call but they realize evil has corrupted the world and they must deal with it now. Moreover, it is clear that their relationship with God is different, too.

But, what was the purpose of examining this passage? It was to help you understand that God intended mankind to be in communion with Him before anyone else. Pay close attention to the words which God uses.

Genesis 3:9 World English Bible (WEB)
9 Yahweh God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?”

Did you notice that God did not call the woman? It is not because God favours one gender over the other. He’s not sexist, you must interpret the Bible, spiritually. There’s a reason why He does what He does.

Firstly, think about how the man knew that God was calling him. God was calling out His name which is “Adam.” Now, unlike Eve’s name, Adam’s name means, “Mankind”. So, what this means is that as soon as Adam and Eve fell from their glory, God was calling out for them. He was calling for mankind.

He was calling for you and me.

A Companion Like No Other

Let’s talk about Jesus Christ. Jesus did not feel lonely when His disciples or human companions abandoned Him. He had God the Father by His side.

John 16:32 World English Bible (WEB)
32 Behold, the time is coming, yes, and has now come, that you will be scattered, everyone to his own place, and you will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.

However, for our sakes, Jesus was crucified as a lonely person. Since mankind was separated from God the day that Adam ate of that forbidden fruit, Jesus took that penalty of separation from God and He was estranged from the Father for you and for me.

Matthew 27:46 World English Bible (WEB)
46 About the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lima sabachthani?” That is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?“Psalm 22:1

The point of what I’m trying to say is that Adam’s curse of separation from God is no longer in effect. Jesus already took that curse; we can have communion with God, now. And if you put your trust in Jesus, if you answer His voice, God will do a new thing in you.

You don’t need to be lonely, God is with you. It no longer matters if people like you or if you have any friends or family. The only thing that matters is that you answer His call because you were made for a relationship with Him. You were made for Him and He is a companion like no other.

Matthew 22:14 King James Version (KJV)
14 For many are called, but few are chosen.

Your Intended Purpose

If you feel lonely, tired of having no one to talk to, and you need a companion, just spend time with Jesus. Spend time in His Word; talk to God about your troubles, He’s listening. You can even tell Him how you feel and if you feel lonely, tell Him that.

John 15:15 World English Bible (WEB)
15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant doesn’t know what his lord does. But I have called you friends, for everything that I heard from my Father, I have made known to you.

Remember how I talked about God’s daily walks with Adam before the fall of mankind. Well, God even restored that aspect of the relationship to those who trust Jesus.

The Companion Who Walks With You

Acts 5:15 World English Bible (WEB)
15 They even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on cots and mattresses, so that as Peter came by, at the least his shadow might overshadow some of them.

The above scripture talks about how when Peter would take a walk, people would lay sick people near him so that even if his shadow touched them, they’d be healed.

But, get this, the Greek word used for “overshadow” in the scripture is episkiazó. Episkiazó is consistently used throughout the New Testament to describe God’s shadowing presence. An example of this is when Jesus is transfigured and God’s presence overshadows some of Jesus’ disciples who are with Him.

Matthew 17:5 World English Bible (WEB)
5 While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them. Behold, a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to him.”

So, when Peter was walking, people were getting healed by God’s shadow coming from Peter. This means that Peter had come to the point where he was literally walking with God. Therefore, seek God, believe upon Jesus, and He will truly be to you a companion like no other.

Proverbs 18:24 World English Bible (WEB)
24 A man of many companions may be ruined,
    but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

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Hope for the Hopeless

“Miqveh.” That is the Hebrew which often translates as “hope” in English translations of the Old Testament. Hope is very important because without hope, it is very hard to continue life.

Hope in God

First of all, the Hebrew word for, “hope” in verses such as Ezra 10:12, where there is hope for Israel, or in verses such as the below verse, Jeremiah 17:13, is “Miqveh.”

Jeremiah 17:13 World English Bible (WEB)
13 Yahweh, the hope of Israel,
    all who forsake you will be disappointed.
Those who depart from me will be written in the earth,
    because they have forsaken Yahweh,
    the spring of living waters.

So, in Jeremiah 17:13, Yahweh, the miqveh of Israel would be how, “Miqveh,” is used in the verse.

In the context of these verses, hope is basically how God provides a future for Israel. For us, in the New Testament, hope is constant expectation of seeing God’s promises in your life.

Romans 4:18 World English Bible (WEB)
18 Besides hope, Abraham in hope believed, to the end that he might become a father of many nations, according to that which had been spoken, “So will your offspring be.”Genesis 15:5

Abraham was in a state of hope, which the New Testament believers should also rest in. He held to his constant expectation of what God promised Him, and that is what hope is. Whatever God says in your life, you have to hold onto, no matter how impossible it seems.

The Bible makes it clear that God promises healing, so hold onto that expectation of perfect health. God promises you in the Bible that you will not be in poverty, so stick to that expectation until you see your financial situation change for the good. If God promises you peace from the Word of God, then believe that He has put His unwavering peace in you.

Whatever God promises whether it is written or spoken, just expect it to happen, rest in the hope which Jesus attained for us.

Double Meaning

Now, why am I so keen on showing you the Hebrew word for hope in the Old Testament of the Bible?

It is because while I was investigating this Hebrew word for hope, Holy Spirit struck me with a fascinating revelation. “Miqveh,” not only means hope, it also means, “a collection of waters.”

Genesis 1:10 World English Bible (WEB)
10 God called the dry land “earth”, and the gathering together of the waters he called “seas”. God saw that it was good.

This Hebrew word is used in the first chapter of the Bible as is shown above. So, in the context of that verse, it would translate as “God called the dry land, ‘earth”, and the miqveh he called ‘seas.”

Why does God make the Hebrew word for hope the same word for a collection of waters?

It is because when God is your hope, you will never be left thirsty! If you root yourself in God, who is your hope, you will not wither away, you will be refreshed by His life. He will make sure that your thirst is quenched!

Life Changing Waters

John 4:14 King James Version (KJV)
14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

Jesus says in the New Testament that whoever drinks of the water which He provides will never be thirsty. When you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, He puts fountains of living water in you! He puts His hope in you and He calls to you so that you may have a taste of this wonderful hope!

John 7:37-38 World English Bible (WEB)
37 Now on the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink! 38 He who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, from within him will flow rivers of living water.”

He does not want you to be in despair or to have no hope! Jesus wants you to be joyful and blessed. God loves you and that is why He made it so easy to come to Him.

So, accept Jesus and if you’ve already put your faith in Him, remember that He is your hope. He is the reason why you keep going even when life gets tough. Your hope can never die. No one can kill your hope; this is because your hope is not something, it is someone. And that someone is the living God who reigns eternally.

He put this hope in you, so that through you, even others can come to know Him and be saved.

Finally, let me close on this point. Jesus said whoever believes in Him, from within him/her will flow rivers of living water. When you come to realize what He paid for you, remember, He is in you. Let God work through and in your life; He is your hope. Therefore, never despair, but keep your eyes on Jesus!