Good Morning Friends,
In Genesis 18 Abraham provides a powerful
example of intercession. Abraham is visited by the Lord with news about what He
was about to do to Sodom and Gomorrah.
“Then the LORD said, ‘The outcry against
Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous that I will go down
and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me. If
not, I will know.’” (Genesis 18:20-21)
Abraham must have known the sins of Sodom and
Gomorrah were great, because in response to the Lord’s message, Abraham asked,
“Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked?” (Genesis 18:23) And then
Abraham began to intercede for the people of Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham had a
special concern for the people of those cities because the inhabitants of Sodom
included Abraham’s nephew, Lot, and his family. Abraham pressed the Lord on
behalf of Sodom and Gomorrah and continued to press the Lord as far as he
could.
First Abraham inquired of the Lord if He
would destroy Sodom and Gomorrah if just 50 righteous people could be found
living there. The Lord listened to Abraham’s intercession and agreed that He
would spare the cities if 50 righteous people were found there. So Abraham pressed
further – asking about 45 and then 40 and then 30 and then 20 and then just 10.
And to each request of Abraham, God answered in the affirmative. If just 10
righteous people were found, God promised Abraham that He would not destroy the
cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.
Of course, not even ten righteous people
could be found in Sodom and Gomorrah and God did move to destroy those cities
with His judgment. But the example I want us to see is the example of Abraham’s
intercession – even his persistent intercession. Abraham had nothing to gain
from any decision of God to spare Sodom and Gomorrah. There was nothing selfish
in Abraham’s prayer – just a concern for his nephew and family and a concern
for the people of the cities. Yet, Abraham pressed God for an answer and God
answered.
God has not visited us with the news of the
approaching destruction of cities near us – or has He? Isn’t that the message
of the Bible – that judgment is coming with terrible destruction. I wonder, are
we as concerned for the people who live around us as Abraham was concerned
about the people of Sodom and Gomorrah. Those people were wicked and deserved
the punishment that was coming to them – still Abraham appealed to God for
mercy. Many of those around us are just as deserving of judgment as those who
lived in Sodom and Gomorrah – do we appeal to God for His mercy for them?
Abraham provides a powerful example of
intercession for us to imitate.
His, by Grace,
Steve
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