The Daily Fountain Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 16 July 2024 – Abraham’s Intercessory Prayer
TOPIC: Abraham’s Intercessory Prayer
READ: Genesis 18:16-33 (NKJV)
- Then the men rose from there and looked toward Sodom, and Abraham went with them to send them on the way.
- And the LORD said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing,
- “since Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?
- “For I have known him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the LORD, to do righteousness and justice, that the LORD may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him.”
- And the LORD said, “Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grave,
- “I will go down now and see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry against it that has come to Me; and if not, I will know.”
- Then the men turned away from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the LORD.
- And Abraham came near and said, “Would You also destroy the righteous with the wicked?
- “Suppose there were fifty righteous within the city; would You also destroy the place and not spare [it] for the fifty righteous that were in it?
- “Far be it from You to do such a thing as this, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be as the wicked; far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?”
- So the LORD said, “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.”
- Then Abraham answered and said, “Indeed now, I who [am but] dust and ashes have taken it upon myself to speak to the Lord:
- “Suppose there were five less than the fifty righteous; would You destroy all of the city for [lack of] five?” So He said, “If I find there forty-five, I will not destroy [it.”]
- And he spoke to Him yet again and said, “Suppose there should be forty found there?” So He said, “I will not do [it] for the sake of forty.”
- Then he said, “Let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Suppose thirty should be found there?” So He said, “I will not do [it] if I find thirty there.”
- And he said, “Indeed now, I have taken it upon myself to speak to the Lord: Suppose twenty should be found there?” So He said, “I will not destroy [it] for the sake of twenty.”
- Then he said, “Let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak but once more: Suppose ten should be found there?” And He said, “I will not destroy [it] for the sake of ten.”
- So the LORD went His way as soon as He had finished speaking with Abraham; and Abraham returned to his place.
THE MESSAGE:
As Abraham was seeing off his three visitors, the Lord decided to reveal His mission to him. This was because Abraham “shall become a great nation and shall command his children and his family to keep the way of the Lord in righteousness and justice.” On learning that Sodom and Gomorrah were to be destroyed, Abraham interceded to God not to destroy the righteous with the wicked. He pleaded with God not to destroy Sodom if he found up to ten righteous people there. God promised not to destroy Sodom if he found at least ten righteous people.
Abraham’s relationship with God made Him reveal His will concerning Sodom to him. Due to the love Abraham had for Lot who lived in Sodom, he interceded for God’s mercy. Do you have a personal relationship with the Lord? You should have a time to read and study the word of God, meditate on it and communicate with God in prayers every day. Set out a time to pray and intercede for other people who are facing difficulties. Do you intercede for your relatives who are in danger of eternal destruction? Have a personal relationship with Jesus and become an intercessor today (John 17: 9, 20)
PRAYER: Father, help me to relate personally with You and intercede for others, Amen.
