Pray For Others

So the Lord told Abraham, “I have heard a great outcry from Sodom and Gomorrah, because their sin is so flagrant.  I am going down to see if their actions are as wicked as I have heard.  If not, I want to know.”  The other men turned and headed toward Sodom, but the Lord remained with Abraham.  Abraham approached him and said, “Will you sweep away both the righteous and the wicked? [Genesis 18.20-23]

On several previous 'reads' through Genesis, I have become so totally distracted with the sexual events of this day's selected readings that I could not write about anything but that.  Today is much the same, however, I will leave my shock for the sexual context for another time and address instead the story of intercession found here.

It is no small thing that Abraham was speaking to the LORD.  How this lines up with Jesus later saying no man has seen God, I don't know.  But it appears Abraham was dealing directly with Deity here.  Who were the other two men?  I don't know.  But the fact of the narrative remains that Abraham was speaking directly to the LORD.

Abraham tested the waters with the LORD in this meeting as far as intercession goes.  He first asked if the LORD would hold off destroying the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah if there were fifty righteous people found there and the LORD agreed to it.  Then, the process of 'going for more' that Abraham engaged in with the LORD was almost childish in its progression, however, the LORD found no fault in it and granted Abraham's request.  It was a simple verbal transaction, but profound in its implications.

I cannot help but believe that God has a lesson for any and all who find themselves in a place of intercession for others.  There is simply no reason to shy away from asking God move on behalf of others based on Abraham's interaction and intercession with the LORD found in the Bible.  There is every reason to plead with God for the souls around us, and, if we are staying in line with this Biblical account, our family is the first and best place to start.  However, it is worth noting that Abraham and Lot may not have been on the best of terms... but Abraham interceded just the same because, at very least, Lot was in Abraham' life and therefore Abraham felt compelled to intercede for Lot's best interests.

Father, help us to pray for others.  Help us to have courage to engage You in intercession and therefore realize results of that intercession in the lives of those for whom we intercede.