Abraham’s Intercessory Prayer

Genesis 18:23-33

GOLDEN TEXT: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”—Psalms 46:1

THE incident in Abraham’s life covered in our lesson, shows us something of the benevolence of his heart, and causes us to love and appreciate him. The intimation that judgment upon Sodom was near, would, upon a cruel and loveless heart have suggested a very different course from that pursued by Abraham. But Abraham’s heart at once went out in sympathy, and benevolently he surmised that although the plain was notoriously wicked there might at least be fifty righteous persons there—not righteous in the absolute sense of being perfect, but in a relative or accommodated sense, doing right to the best of their ability.

Abraham had the spirit of a mediator; he said to himself, God has been kind and gracious in every way, and now that He has opened this subject to me I will make bold to tell Him of my heart sympathy for the people, and express a hope that He will be generous to them. Then he said, “Wilt Thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked? Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt Thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein? That be far from Thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from Thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?”

If these words surprise us—to think that Abraham would dare to call in question the righteousness of the Lord—we should remember that he did not have the blessed advantage that we possess; namely, the guidance of the Word of God and the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit, whereby the Lord’s people since Pentecost have been begotten again, and granted insight into the deep things of God. We may indeed consider it reasonable that this was Abraham’s way of putting a question to the Lord rather than criticizing Him—“If you should destroy the righteous with the wicked, and thus show no difference, would it be just? Lord, show me how this would be just. Surely you would do, right. I would like to see how justice would be compatible with the course I understand you have in mind.”

Similar questions come to us now. Financial disasters come, and probably as often affect the righteous as they do the wicked; storms and tempests do injury to their interests; indeed, sometimes the Lord seems not only not to show favoritism to the righteous, but, if anything, permits, as in Job’s case, more peculiar disasters to fall to their lot. Under the instructions of the Great Teacher and His assistants, the apostles, we have learned that our interests are best served by difficulties in the flesh, and that God’s promise “that all things work together for good to them that love Him, to them who are the called according to His purpose,” is true. (Rom. 8:28) The Lord supervises the experiences of His faithful ones so that these afflictions shall seem but light, and shall work out for them “a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” as new creatures, in the life to come.—II Cor. 4:17

The Lord answered Abraham that if there were fifty righteous, well-intentioned people in Sodom, it would not be destroyed; and Abraham perceived that he was not more just or more generous than the Lord. But as he thought over the matter it occurred to him that there might perhaps be a few less than fifty, so he asked if the city might be spared if there were only forty-five. The reply was, yes. His own courage increased, the spirit, of love and benevolence having begun to operate, he queried of the Lord whether now forty would secure mercy upon the city. The answer was, yes. Abraham had not yet touched the bottom in seeking the measure of the Lord’s goodness. Step by step he increased his request. Would it be spared for thirty?—for twenty?—until finally he asked the Lord if He would spare the city for ten. In every case the answer was, yes. In every case the Lord was proved to be no less just, no less generous, than His servant. He had not yet been blessed as we have been with the anointing of the eyes of his understanding to an appreciation of the length and breadth and height and depth of the love of God, which passeth all understanding.—Eph. 3:17-19

There is a lesson for us in all this—a lesson that we should be more and more like our Father which is in heaven, whose message is, “Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy”; and again, “if ye from your hearts forgive not everyone his brother their trespasses” “neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive you your trespasses.”—Matt. 5:7; 18:35; Mark 11:26

As Abraham’s solicitude was not for the wicked but for the righteous, so our sympathies should be with all who in every place love righteousness and hate iniquity—to do them good, to serve their interests, to render them assistance, doing, good to all men, especially to the household of faith.—Gal. 6:10

While our minds are contemplating the glories of God in connection with this incident of the destruction of Sodom, let us remember that now He has revealed to us a far greater degree of sympathy and love in His provision for the whole world of mankind through the great Redeemer, Abraham’s Son, our Lord. What more do we see? Ask the Lord Himself and hearken to His answer: “It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city”—of Bethsaida, Chorazin and Capernaum. (Matt. 10:15,20-24) To quote the words of inspiration again, the people of Sodom were haughty, neglected the poor and the needy and committed abomination, and the Lord took them away in the great catastrophe that came upon their city, “as He saw good.” (Ezekiel 16:49,50) They had a day of judgment back there and were made an example of God’s indignation against all unrighteousness and His will that all evil-doers shall be destroyed.

But they will be judged again, not in the sense of punishment a second time for their evil deeds—they have already suffered for them. The promised day of judgment means a fresh time of trial purchased for them by the divine arrangement that Jesus Christ “by the grace of God should taste death for every man”—giving Himself “A ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” (Heb. 2:9; I Tim. 2:4-6) From this standpoint of present truth, unfolding the divine plan we perceive the glorious riches of God’s loving kindness in His provisions for the church and also for the world of mankind in general, the majority of whom are still in the great prison house of death of which Jesus now has the key.—Revelation 1:18

QUESTIONS:

How was Abraham’s character revealed in his intercession for Sodom?

How was the goodness of God exhibited in connection with the destruction of that wicked city?

What do the prophecies indicate is yet to be the experience of the people of Sodom?

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