Genesis 18:16-33

Jesus said to his apostles that they were His friends because He told them His plans (John 15:15).  C. H. Mackintosh once noted, The more closely we walk with God, and the more subject we are to His Word, the more we shall know of His mind about everything.  Because of Abraham’s role as God’s prophet, God reveals to him His purpose concerning Sodom and Gomorrah.

Scripture teaches that the cry of the righteous against the wicked comes before God (Gen. 4:10; Rev. 6:9-11).  Sin is an offense to the Creator, and the righteous care about the glory of the Creator.  Thus a cry has come before God concerning the wickedness of the cities in the plain of the Jordan River (v20-21).  Oh that sin would move God’s people today with the same passion.

But oh that God’s people would also be moved to intercede as we see Abraham do in this story.  God has come with two angels to evaluate the situation and to bring judgment.  God, of course, knows the situation in Sodom.  But He speaks this way so as to provide a window of opportunity for Abraham to yet again save Lot.  This time, however, it will come through Abraham’s pleading with God.

The series of requests may seem strange at first.  But in fact it is an indication of the growing faith of Abraham.  He has needed to know just how far God will go to keep His promise; here he is learning how far God will go to protect the righteous.

Intercessory prayer is prayer for others, perhaps especially for those in trouble of their own making as was the case with Lot.  Lot needs someone else to be praying for him.  Remember that God’s greatest servants were intercessors.  Moses twice interceded for Israel when God had said he would destroy them (Ps. 106:23).  Samuel (1 Sam. 12:23), Ezra, Elijah (on Mount Carmel), Daniel (in Babylon), and Nehemiah all prayed great prayers of intercession.  And then greatest of all was the intercession of Christ Himself in John 17.  

Abraham’s prayer is well founded because he pleads with God on the basis of God’s own character (v23-25).  And he grows in faith as his request grows greater.

In the walk of faith this is a major lesson we must learn: to use that faith for the sake of others.  Faith intercedes with God!