ABRAHAM

a. HIS SPIRIT. Verse 27.
There is no arrogance on the part of Abraham, but there is tremendous boldness and perseverance.
Those who have real power with God are those who realize what they are in God’s presence.
b. HIS PERSISTENCE. Verses 28-32.
It is amazing how daring Abraham is with God. Yet there is a dignity and honor given. This
bartering goes on until the Lord concedes to preserve the city if there are but ten righteous persons
found in it.
It all stops at ten. Abraham pursues the issue no farther. Why? We do not know for sure but at this
point Abraham felt sure that there would be ten righteous in the city. Sadly, even if he had asked for
only five it would have been too many. There were only four that would be initially spared from the
destruction of the city and only three of them would live.
We assume that Abraham is thinking of his nephew and his family when he is satisfied to stop his
intercession. It is very likely that there were ten people in Lot’s own household. As we find in
Chapter 19 there would have been Lot and his wife, his sons (meaning at least two) his two
unmarried daughters who lived with him, and other married daughters and their husbands. The plural
here means more than two. So counting all of these there would have been at least ten.
Abraham was counting on the supposition that Lot had led his family in righteousness. We will see
in Chapter 19 how wrong Abraham was.
5. ABRAHAM’S PEACE. Verse 33.
At this the two friends part; the Lord went His way and Abraham returned to his tent. Abraham had
done all that he could. He had stood in the gap for a wicked and sinful people. He had interceded
on their behalf. And now he was resolved to rest in the will of God. He rested in the fact that “the
judge of all the earth will do right.” (Genesis 18:25).
Folks, everyone that is saved has the privilege of interceding for others. We have full access to the
throne of God on behalf of others.
1 John 5:14
“And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His
will, He heareth us.”
The believer has God’s ear. With that understanding, we must be ready to stand in the gap. We live
in the midst of a lost and dying world. It is a world that is condemned to an eternal hell. Will we
not pray for them? God has promised that He will save every person that comes to Him in
repentance and faith. Every Christian is a testimony that God is good for His promises.
It is also true that we live in days that are extremely troubling. Will we not stand in the gap for those
who remain under the condemnation of God? Be sure the “Judge of al the earth will do right.”
(Genesis 18:25).
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