Prayer 2021 – February 28 – Abraham’s Prayer of Intercession
Scripture of the Day:
Genesis 20:17
“Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelek, his wife and his female slaves so they could have children again…”
Abraham’s Prayer of Intercession
Abraham, father of the Faith. A man whom God called his friend.
In Genesis chapter 18, we see the example of Abraham as one who stood in the gap on behalf of others. When Abraham became aware of the impending judgement upon the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah, he interceded in their behalf.
Instead of reading the entire scripture, I’ll just summarize in paraphrase form here.
When Abraham asked the Lord to spare the city if there were 50 righteous people in it, God said, “IF I find 50 righteous people within the city, then I will spare all of the city for their sake.”
Then, Abraham said, “Lord, I’d just like to speak a little further with you, if you don’t mind. What if there are only 45 righteous in the city. Would you spare the place for the 45?
In effect, the Lord answered Abraham, “Yes, I’ll do it, only because you asked me too. I’ll spare the entire city for the sake of the 45.”
Then Abraham continued to ask the Lord to spare Sodom and Gomorrah, reducing the number each time until he got to 10 righteous people. And God agreed, if there were 10 righteous people in the city, God would spare the entire city and not render it under judgment.
I believe Abraham figured, “Surely, there are at least 10 righteous people in those towns…Lot, his wife, two daughters and two sons-in-law, there’s six right there!”
But, if you read Genesis 19 a little more closely, looking at verse 12 where the angel is speaking to Lot, the angel said, “Do you have any one in this town beside you here? Son-in-laws, your sons (plural) and your daughters…” so there were SONS that would not listen as well. It could also be the two daughters that went with Lot were NOT the ones we see refenced in this verse.
Notice, it says in verse 15, to “take your two daughters which are here… So this is obviously two other daughters that had already married other men… PLUS at least TWO sons because of the plural use of the word SONS.
That would mean, Lot, his wife, the two young daughters, the two married daughters and their husbands and at least TWO sons – that equals 10 people right there!
Many have asked “Why would Abraham stop at 10?” That’s the reason right there! He figured Lot and his family were the 10 righteous and their family’s presence would be enough to stop the determined judgement.
But that is not what happened is it?
That’s because his sons-in-law, and by virtue, the daughters that were married to them, decided to ignore the old man. As did his other sons. This goes to prove, you cannot provide for the salvation of your family. It has to be a CHOICE they make.
You can bring them up in church and representing Jesus to them in your life and manners, etc. But the ultimate choice is theirs and theirs alone to make. It is not a pretty picture. It saddens me to think about it like that. But it is Biblical Truth.
If under the OLD COVENANT, Abraham interceded for other people and God would heed his prayer and be willing to stay judgement, how much more would that be a factor for us under the NEW COVENANT?
We, as covenant children, just like Abraham was, but our covenant is even better…we are CHILDREN of the MOST HIGH GOD, Heirs of God and Joint Heirs with Jesus of all things!
We are in a more perfect place for intercession! Amen! We have the authority to use Jesus Name to help others through prayer and intercession and to effect a change in nations themselves! Glory to God!
I want to pray for you right now to take your rightful place and begin to intercede for others. Others the Lord puts on your heart. Intercede for your family. Intercede for your nation. Intercede for this nation. This nation needs a lot of prayer. If there was EVER a nation that was deserving of Judgement, it is the United States of America right now…and JUDGEMENT is coming!
It is unstoppable! BUT – we can delay it – IF we start to intercede and give God SOMETHING to work with. That SOMETHING is our Faith! Amen!
Let’s Pray!
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