Genesis 18:20-23 NLT, ‘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?’
After the Holy Trinity (Why Can’t We Be Friends?) made a mutual decision to bring Abraham into their confidence, God relayed to him what laid so heavily on His heart and mind.
Let’s go down memory lane before we move forward with this blog. Back in Genesis 14, Abraham already fought a war to rescue his nephew Lot (Saving Lot) and in doing so, rescued the people of Sodom. All the people of Sodom were supernaturally restored to their city with all of their belongings through Abraham, by the hand of God. At least 14 years have passed since this miraculous event which happened before the birth of Ishmael in Genesis 16.
The word ‘outcry’ in verse 20 (1) tells us that the outcry came from a person or persons. Someone made a cry to the Lord about the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah. It would be safe to assume that outcry came from Abraham’s nephew, Lot. He had already been captured by the enemy once and did not want to be caught in another battle. Also, if you jump to Genesis 19, Lot was sitting at the gates when the angels reached the city, a physical position of authority. 1 Corinthians 15:46 tells us that God gives us a natural object lesson and then the spiritual significance is revealed. Gatekeeper is also a way of saying prayer intercessor. A gatekeeper guards a city from danger as an intercessor guards those he prays for from danger. Lot was watching over the city of his residence and praying for its citizens. His outcry reached the ears of God and now an inspection was taking place to measure the injustice recorded by the gatekeeper.
It is my belief that Abraham realized that it was his nephew that cried out to God. As the two other angels head towards Sodom, God remains with Abraham waiting for his response to these charges.
Abraham knows the history and the reputation of the people of Sodom and he knows Lot well enough to know that his information was accurate. Because God’s mercy so generously restored these people once, He expected to find the fruit of repentance. It is interesting to me that Abraham didn’t diminish the case made for the seriousness of the crimes committed. Instead, he asked God to find the number of men not committing crimes as recorded in Genesis 18:24 till the end of the chapter. I can just hear Abraham’s spirit, "God, I know Your heart is so grieved, and I know that you expect more out of those You demonstrated Your great mercy to, and You should! But, please rescue those who live for You in this city." Again, Abraham engaged as an intercessor on a rescue mission for his nephew and for all those Lot’s righteous living may have impacted.
Is it any wonder God was so crazy about Abraham? Like his Heavenly Father, Abraham loved the people and was always looking for the best in every situation. That is the attitude of a godly intercessor. What great faith in the goodness of God! Abraham is the father of our faith and we are his spiritual children. Like him, we must love God, place our faith in Him, love the people, and intercede with the attitude of looking for the best in every situation.
Galatians 3:7 NLT, “The real children of Abraham, then, are those who put their faith in God.”
Pray It:
Father, Your mercy is amazing. I can come to You about anything and for anybody and You are willing and ready to go to their rescue. Help me to keep my faith in You, love people, and believe for the best in every situation. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Say It:
I am a child of God.
I am a child of Abraham, the father of my faith.
God’s mercy is amazing.
I intercede for others.
God rescues those I pray for.
Do It:
Make a commitment to look for the best in every situation as you intercede for others.
Let’s go down memory lane before we move forward with this blog. Back in Genesis 14, Abraham already fought a war to rescue his nephew Lot (Saving Lot) and in doing so, rescued the people of Sodom. All the people of Sodom were supernaturally restored to their city with all of their belongings through Abraham, by the hand of God. At least 14 years have passed since this miraculous event which happened before the birth of Ishmael in Genesis 16.
The word ‘outcry’ in verse 20 (1) tells us that the outcry came from a person or persons. Someone made a cry to the Lord about the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah. It would be safe to assume that outcry came from Abraham’s nephew, Lot. He had already been captured by the enemy once and did not want to be caught in another battle. Also, if you jump to Genesis 19, Lot was sitting at the gates when the angels reached the city, a physical position of authority. 1 Corinthians 15:46 tells us that God gives us a natural object lesson and then the spiritual significance is revealed. Gatekeeper is also a way of saying prayer intercessor. A gatekeeper guards a city from danger as an intercessor guards those he prays for from danger. Lot was watching over the city of his residence and praying for its citizens. His outcry reached the ears of God and now an inspection was taking place to measure the injustice recorded by the gatekeeper.
It is my belief that Abraham realized that it was his nephew that cried out to God. As the two other angels head towards Sodom, God remains with Abraham waiting for his response to these charges.
Abraham knows the history and the reputation of the people of Sodom and he knows Lot well enough to know that his information was accurate. Because God’s mercy so generously restored these people once, He expected to find the fruit of repentance. It is interesting to me that Abraham didn’t diminish the case made for the seriousness of the crimes committed. Instead, he asked God to find the number of men not committing crimes as recorded in Genesis 18:24 till the end of the chapter. I can just hear Abraham’s spirit, "God, I know Your heart is so grieved, and I know that you expect more out of those You demonstrated Your great mercy to, and You should! But, please rescue those who live for You in this city." Again, Abraham engaged as an intercessor on a rescue mission for his nephew and for all those Lot’s righteous living may have impacted.
Is it any wonder God was so crazy about Abraham? Like his Heavenly Father, Abraham loved the people and was always looking for the best in every situation. That is the attitude of a godly intercessor. What great faith in the goodness of God! Abraham is the father of our faith and we are his spiritual children. Like him, we must love God, place our faith in Him, love the people, and intercede with the attitude of looking for the best in every situation.
Galatians 3:7 NLT, “The real children of Abraham, then, are those who put their faith in God.”
Pray It:
Father, Your mercy is amazing. I can come to You about anything and for anybody and You are willing and ready to go to their rescue. Help me to keep my faith in You, love people, and believe for the best in every situation. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Say It:
I am a child of God.
I am a child of Abraham, the father of my faith.
God’s mercy is amazing.
I intercede for others.
God rescues those I pray for.
Do It:
Make a commitment to look for the best in every situation as you intercede for others.
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