The men turned away and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before the Lord.” Genesis 18:22 NIV
Abraham approached him and said: “Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked? 24 What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people in it? 25 Far be it from you to do such a thing—to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?” Genesis 18:23b-25
“Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, though I am nothing but dust and ashes, 28 what if the number of the righteous is five less than fifty? Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five people?” Genesis 18:27-28
“What if only forty are found there?” Genesis 18:29
Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, what if only twenty can be found there?”
May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak just once more. What if only ten can be found there?” Genesis 18:29
Then he said, “Let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak but once more: Suppose ten should be found there?” Genesis 18:30 NIV
Lord ,
Abraham was just getting to know You and he did not have the benefit of knowing Jesus. (Though many believe that this was an appearance of God as a man.) He has very bold and otspoken.
I love the way his intercession is almost a negotiation and is an up front in the face request. Even using God’s own character, as a life-giver, to back up his request! Perhaps we should not be so worried about what we say but just get on and ask. Abraham was still respectful even though he tested the boundaries as he added, Lord do not to be angry!
Interestingly the city could not be spared. It was completely annihilated. But God heard Abraham’s real plea which was for his nephew Lot, living there. It was Lot’s wife’s choice to disobey and be lost on the way out! But they did not join Abraham in safety, gratitude or to worship. They went off to sin again.. Not a very happy ending.
We can either be an Abraham or a Lot. One who prays for others or one who just lives in their own small world. Help us pitch our tents in safe places and in this world of sin pray for the many who need to hear of Your love, Your life and Your salvation. That they can escape to live with You forever. Keep us praying for others.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Tuesday 7th January 2025
Written in 2017 I only discovered this song recently. It encourages me to pray and help others to.
People hurting, people broken
Beaten down and feeling hopeless
Wonder if it’s gonna always be this way
Who will speak up for the captive
Show some love and heal a past that
Binds the wounds we think will never go away
But what if we could be a people on our knees
As one before the King
‘Cause we believe
All the world starts changing
When the church starts praying
Strongholds start to break
Oh, when we pray
Prison walls start shaking
At the sound of praising
Nothing stays the same
Oh, when we pray
Oh, when we pray, oh
I see revival rising
I see hope on the horizon
As a generation stepping out in faith
Because we will be a people on our knees
As one before the King
‘Cause we believe, hey!
Chorus
Let Your kingdom come, Lord
Let Your will be done (hey!)
All the world starts changing
When the church starts praying
Strongholds start to break
Oh, when we pray
Chorus
In Jesus’ name (when we pray)
In Jesus’ name (when we pray)
When we pray, oh
When we pray
Lyrics: Tauren Wells / Colby Wedgeworth / Ethan Hulse