LastCall: Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing? -Bob Caldwell

Abraham’s Fellowship & Intercession with God  18:17 And the LORD said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing?” In this account we are given wonderful insight into the role of intercession before God. This is different than any other type of prayer. Intercession is seeking God primarily for the well-being of others. Standing before God on behalf of another person who many times may not be seeking God for themselves. This powerful form of prayer began in Abraham’s heart as he was moved to pray for those in Sodom in light of the fact that his nephew, Lot, had become a citizen of this corrupt city. To be made aware of what God was about to do was a direct result of Abraham’s growing relationship with god. Abraham had also come to know that God was a just God. He knew God would not destroy the righteous with the wicked. Knowing God’s character guided him in his ability to intercede for others because he had a solid understanding of how God would approach a situation like this. A person who knows God will know how best to pray. Lastly, we see that he prayed with persistence. He asked again and again for as much as possible from God. No doubt Abraham’s chief concern was for his nephew Lot who had moved into Sodom. Even though God did not find even ten righteous people in the city and would destroy this city, Lot will be saved because of the intercessory prayers of Abraham. Prayer works! Therefore, let us first pursue to know God. I doing so we too will be made aware by God what and whom we too can intercede for in the midst of a fallen world.
Genesis 18:16-33  Abraham Intercedes for Sodom 16 Then the men rose from there and looked toward Sodom, and Abraham went with them to send them on the way. 17 And the LORD said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing, 18 since Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? 19 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.” 20 And the LORD said, “Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grave, 21 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.”
Abraham’s Intercession (Verses 16-33) v. 16 The Men – This refers to the Lord (v. 1) and the two angels (19:1). They are called men because they appeared as such, so they could interact with Abraham. Sodom – A city known for its wickedness (Gen. 13:13). Went With Them – Abraham has trouble just letting the Lord walk away. He obviously longed to be in His presence as long as possible. v. 17 Shall I Hide – Abraham would later be referred to, in scripture, as a “friend of God” (II Chron. 20:7; Is. 41:8; Jas. 2:23). It is intimacy with God that becomes the doorway into knowing the ways and plans of God. Jesus on this same basis calls His own disciples friends (Jn.15:14-15). v. 19 Command His Children – That Abraham would be faithful to God in imparting God’s will to his children was critical to his call. He would be the father of a nation set apart to reveal God’s will to the world. v. 20 Outcry – The destruction of people’s lives was so severe that God could not withhold action. v. 21 I Will Go Down and See – Obviously God who knows all things, and therefore knew the true state of these cities. He is speaking in terms as man would speak, in relaying his actions to Abraham.
22 Then the men turned away from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the LORD. 23 And Abraham came near and said, “Would You also destroy the righteous with the wicked? 24 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? 25 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?” 26 So the LORD said, “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.” 27 Then Abraham answered and said, “Indeed now, I who am but dust and ashes have taken it upon myself to speak to the Lord: 28 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.” 29 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.” 30 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.” 31 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.” 32 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.” 33 So the LORD went His way as soon as He had finished speaking with Abraham; and Abraham returned to his place.
v. 23 Would You Destroy – Abraham had come to know God well enough to know that God is perfect in the execution of His justice. This justice included the principle that God will not indiscriminately bring punishment upon those who do not deserve it. This same principle is one of the chief causes to see the doctrine of the rapture of the Church prior to the tribulation as rooted in the character of God. Since the seven year tribulation period is the result of God’s wrath being poured out on a Christ rejecting world, it would only make sense that those saved from the wrath to come, will be therefore be removed from the earth (Rom. 5:9; 1 Thess. 4:13-18). v. 24 Spare It For the Fifty – So begins Abraham’s process of intercession before the Lord. In this account we see several features that are typical in the life of an intercessor. 1) We see Abraham as one who shared in intimacy with God that put him in a position to know the ways and will of God. 2) We see Abraham as one who had a bold confidence to approach God based upon an understanding of the character of God and therefore knew what God could be expected to do . 3) He pleaded for the well-being of others, not his own. 4) Abraham pleaded with God with persistence.

Last Call Digest

This material was brought to you by Broadcast(B.C.)Christianity. Last Call Digest, is a ministry of Michael James Stone, volunteers, and people dedicated to the Love of God and Salvation of Souls. It is an aggragate of Christian Material selected to Bless you and Prepare you for each and every day you read them. May God Bless You as You Do!! Reading these Devotions will help you to prepare daily for life, living, and your Lord. You will hear God Speak To You thru them.  Jesus  is Coming Very Soon.

Last Call        

Broadcast(B.C.)Christianity, operates by you, with you, and for you. “Freely you have received, freely give”  Pass this on, everywhere you can, anytime you can, anyway you can. You will be blessed if you do.LastCallDigest@michaeljamesstone.com

Last Call Journal

Fair Use Notice

In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, any copyrighted work herein is archived under fair use without profit or payment to those who have expressed a prior interest in reviewing the included information for personal use, non-profit research and educational purposes only.

This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner.
The material is being made available in an effort to understand scripture, news, technology and society especially as it relates to God and Jesus. It is specifically for non-profit research and educational purposes only. I believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. If you wish to use this copyrighted material for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use,' you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. This is a completely non-commercial site for private personal use. No fee is charged, and no money is made off of the operation of this site. Nor is any implied reciprocal gratuities implied or construed.

Posted via email from The Last Call Digest