Abraham The Pleader

by G. Jarvie, Glasgow | Category: Prayers Of Scripture | May 1973

"Abraham stood yet before the LORD" (Gen. 18:22).

We thank God that He has recorded in His word some of the prayers and supplications of His servants; prayers that are as incense before Him (Psa. 141:2). How greatly the Lord loved those men and women, down the ages, who spent time in His presence, pleading with Him for the things that are according to His will! And not only pleading, but praising, as they received the answers to their supplications - by faith. What God was to them, He will be to us. That is the lesson of their prayers. They have gone, but He abides - the God who hears prayer, the One to whom all flesh shall come (Psa. 65:2).

Let us consider the prayer of Abraham. The fate of Sodom lay in the balance. How much depended on the prayer of this one man as he stood before the Lord I How much depends on our prayers t60, as we pray for men in high place, and for the nations! This we are exhorted by Paul to do (1 Tim. 2:1). Nor should we forget the many who suffer for Christ's sake, and for all who live in stress under oppressive governments.

Boldness and yet humility characterized Abraham as he pleaded with the Lord. "Wilt Thou consume the righteous with the wicked ... shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?" We learn much from Abraham in the matter of supplication. "Peradventure there be fifty?" How patient God is with men, and how patient too with His servants as they plead for men!

"He doth not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men (Lam.3:33).

And yet He must correct for "Righteousness and judgement are the foundation of Thy throne" (Psa. 89:14).

Again Abraham pleaded, this time for forty five; and again the Lord hearkened to His servant. Again and again he pleaded, until the Lord promised that He would spare the city for the sake of ten; only ten righteous persons and the whole city would be spared. How many cities must have been spared for the sake of the righteous in them, and they knew it not!

But not even ten righteous persons could be found in Sodom, and the judgement of God fell on it. When Abraham rose early in the morning, and stood in the place of his intercession, he saw the smoke of Sodom rise, "as the smoke of a furnace" (Gen. 19:28). But his prayer had been answered. The Lord had shown His willingness to spare the city, but judgement was necessary.

Abraham's intercession for Sodom must have been wellpleasing to God, for He loves mercy. In the days of Isaiah He wondered that there was no intercessor (59:16), none to plead for men. Brethren and sisters, our times of intercession and supplication on behalf of others are very precious to God. "First of all ... for all men", Paul exhorted. Others first, ourselves afterwards, even in prayer.

Strong forces of evil and wickedness are at work in the world today. And behind these are the world rulers of this darkness (Eph. 6:12). The Lord looks for intercessors, as in the days of Abraham and in the days of Isaiah. Judgement against evil is God's work, but intercession' with God is our work. Let us go out and plead with men, and then go in and plead with God for men. Let us be mighty in prayer. The days demand it. We are in the world, but not of it. We are ambassadors on behalf of Christ, as though God were entreating by us (2 Cor. 5:20). What a great calling is ours Let us remember too the precious promise of Daniel 12:3. "They that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever".

The coming day will reveal how much has been wrought by those who were intercessors on behalf of others.

G. Jarvie, Glasgow | May 1973
Prayers Of Scripture