God Remembered Abraham

by R. Darke, Victoria B.C. | Category: General | Mar 1970

The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah is one of the special occasions of which it is recorded, "God remembered Abraham" (Genesis 19.29). As he sat in his tent door in the heat of the day Abraham received three unexpected guests. One was the LORD (Genesis 18.20), and the other two were angels (19.1). The two angels went later to Sodom, but the LORD tarried with Abraham and divulged to him that the two immoral cities of the Plain were to be overthrown. Then follow the striking words, "... Abraham stood yet before the LORD. And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt Thou consume the righteous with the wicked?" (18.22,23). Notice the reverent, respectful attitude of Abraham. He was the friend of the God who had said He would not hide from Abraham what He purposed to do (verse 17). Abraham did not abuse this friendship by undue familiarity. He did not address God as though he were speaking to a man. No, Abraham stood before the LORD graciously and reverently, then he drew near to plead earnestly that Lot and his family might be saved from the holocaust which was to descend upon Sodom and Gomorrah.

How careful, too, should we be in our approach to God! Our attitude of heart and mind and the words of our lips should indicate our reverence for Him. "God is not a man" (Numbers 23.19). He is worthy of all glory, honour and power (Revelation 4.11). One is distressed, sometimes, to hear brethren addressing God as though He were on their human level, instead of remembering that the grace of God enables us to enjoy the uplifting experience of approaching the eternal throne by faith, and humbly addressing the mighty God of heaven and earth with becoming reverence, as did Abraham. The wise king wrote, "Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God; for God is in heaven and thou upon the earth" (Ecclesiastes 5.2). Surely we can learn a lesson from Abraham's reverential attitude in prayer, his deep abiding respect for the LORD, and his holy persistence in pleading for the welfare of others. Abraham carried Lot and his family on the arms of faith into the LORD'S presence and was finally promised by the LORD that He would not destroy Sodom and Gomorrah if ten righteous people were found therein. But ten could not be found, and "the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire ..." (19.24). This was when "God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow" (verse 29). God remembered, and also honoured the prayers of Abraham that Lot and his family should be delivered from the impending judgement.

Let our hearts be encouraged by the thought that the Lord will also remember our prayers.

"Have we kinsfolk strangers to Him? Take them to the Lord in prayer".

We must not weary in bringing to God in prayer our friends, and relatives, and neighbours, and Sunday school children. Let us not relax in asking Him to restore those once in the Fellowship. We must learn to be prayer-carriers. In Acts 3 we read about the hour of prayer associated with the Temple, and of a cripple who "was carried, whom they laid daily at the door of the temple (verse 2). Who are the "they" mentioned here? Obviously devoted, loving, self-sacrificing people, who did not consider this helpless cripple a burden, for they carried him daily. Thank God for the unnamed faithful friends mentioned in Scripture as an example to us. There were four more of like mind who carried the palsied man into the Lord's presence. They did not let a crowd or any other obstacle hinder them, but their faith spurred them on until they reached the roof of the house where the Lord was, and they let the palsied man down carefully and hopefully to the very feet of the divine Helper and Healer. Unnamed, wonderful people whose faith we might well imitate in our prayer-life by taking to the Lord in prayer helpless sinners and needy saints!

The story is told of a lad carrying his younger brother up a steep mountain road, and a traveller sympathized with him saying, "That is quite a heavy burden you are carrying". The lad answered, "This is no burden, this is my brother". How wonderful it would be if we could think of each other in this way, and help and pray for each other accordingly. Paul gives us a striking insight into our attitude towards one another when he writes, "Brethren, even if a man be overtaken in any trespass, ye which are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of meekness" (Galatians 6.1). The word "restore" comes from a Greek medical term used for resetting joints, limbs, and bones which have come out of place. If the patient is to be made comfortable, the dislocated part has to be put back into place by skilful hands. There might be some pain in the process, but this is unavoidable. So it is in a spiritual sense. Sin can quickly make "dislocated" Christians of us, and that is why Paul specifies, "Ye which are spiritual, restore such a one". It takes grace, firmness, and skill born of wisdom to help saints who have lapsed into sin, but what a triumph when they are restored. May God equip us with those divine qualities which help us to become "spiritual"; and may He help us, too, to be faithful in our prayers for one another!

R. Darke, Victoria B.C. | Mar 1970
General