Intercession

DEVOTION

GENESIS

INTERCESSION

Gen 18:26-33

26 The LORD said, "If I find fifty righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake." 27 Then Abraham spoke up again: "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 because of five people?" "If I find forty-five there," he said, "I will not destroy it." 29 Once again he spoke to him, "What if only forty are found there?" He said, "For the sake of forty, I will not do it." 30 Then he said, "May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak. What if only thirty can be found there?" He answered, "I will not do it if I find thirty there." 31 Abraham said, "Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, what if only twenty can be found there?" He said, "For the sake of twenty, I will not destroy it." 32 Then he said, "May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak just once more. What if only ten can be found there?" He answered, "For the sake of ten, I will not destroy it." 33 When the LORD had finished speaking with Abraham, he left, and Abraham returned home.

NIV

Abraham entreats the Lord to spare the city of Sodom, as we are aware, he knows this is where his nephew lives. Abraham continues to converse with the Lord in a most persuasive manner, from sparing on account of finding fifty righteous down to if only ten righteous are there. Did Lot’s family total ten? All we are aware of is Lot, his wife, and two daughters, at least that were in the house at the time the angels visited there. So we really are not sure why Abraham did not continue until he was able to entreat the Lord not to destroy this city if there were only four righteous. But then knowing what happened when Lot and his family did leave, his wife may not have been that righteous. Maybe even his daughters were not that righteous, maybe it was just Lot. Did the Abraham actually change the mind of God? Did not God already know Abraham would speak to him on behalf of this city for the sake of Lot? Did not God already know Abraham would continue until he agreed to save the city if only ten righteous were found? Is the point of all this discussion between Abraham and the Lord merely to show us there were not even ten righteous in the city? The whole of the city had perverted their lives to a point they had no recollection of God at all. Even though they were generations removed from their ancestors, they were still somewhere in the line of one of the sons of Noah. The stories told of the days of Noah had to have been passed down generation to generation. We would think all peoples knew of the Lord’s wrath poured out on the whole world so that all people except Noah and his family were destroyed. How soon they must have forgotten about the wrath of God against such grievous disregard for him. This is the very reason the Lord told Abraham he was going to visit Sodom.  But our lesson is in the reason, which we will have more opportunity to learn as we continue with this narrative and what happens. But let us stay for a moment with the fact their lives, their sin was so grievous. They had forgotten about God. They lived to serve their own pleasures rather than God. It is easy to get catch up in life, a self-centered life, which surely they were doing. But we should not be too harsh to judge them as we too, even though we will never forget about God, get too comfortable with the pleasures of life. It is easy to forge our own way rather than to follow God. Following God is more than going to church on Sunday morning, or attending a bible study or small group. Following God is more than checking off a list of the do’s and don’ts. Following God is living as he desires us to live, trusting him for all things in our lives. If God says, move, we move. If God says stay, we stay. If God says for us to speak to someone, we speak to them about Jesus. This is not our lives to live in any manner we desire. We are servants of the Most High God Almighty. Now, the other lesson which also needs to be seen, is in the intercession of Abraham. This was a demonstration of the intercession Jesus makes on our behalf before the throne of God. Although we try our very best, and even having the Spirit dwelling within, we do continue to sin. Sure we may not murder, steal, or violate some of the other commandments, but we do have attitudes and even behaviors that are considered sin. If it were not for Jesus Christ and his intercession for us, we would be subject to the wrath of God. Those who refused to accept Jesus surely will experience the wrath which will be unleased upon Sodom. Still, we who have not forgotten God, who desire to live a life pleasing to him, continue to need the intercession of Jesus on our behalf. Abraham serves to show us Jesus.