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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadPaul Kretzmann Commentary - Genesis 18:23 - 18:33
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Abraham's Intercession
v. 23. And Abraham drew near and said, Wilt Thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked? It was a holy boldness which Abraham here displayed, both in drawing near to the Lord until he stood face to face with Him, and in speaking as he did: Surely Thou wilt not sweep off the righteous with the godless!
v. 24. Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city; wilt Thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein?
v. 25. That be far from Thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked; and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from Thee! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? The form of the petition is almost presumptuous, but it is the presumption of faith. It is not Abraham's personal interest in his nephew Lot that prompts him to such boldness, but the belief in the righteousness of God, who surely would not permit the righteous to be slain with the wicked.
v. 26. And the Lord said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, I will spare all the place for their sakes. This assurance of the Lord encourages Abraham to continue his pleading, although in a lowly, humble form.
v. 27. And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes.
v. 28. Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous; wilt Thou destroy all the city for lack of five? And He said, if I find there forty and five, I will not destroy it. This is a glorious example for the believers of all times, for they also are dust as to their origin and ashes as to their end, and yet, as children of God by faith in Christ Jesus, they may freely and boldly speak to their heavenly Father and implore Him with the greatest daring
v. 29. And he spake unto Him yet again and said, Peradventure there shall be forty found there. And He said, I will not do it for forty's sake.
v. 30. And he said unto Him, Oh, let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Peradventure there shall thirty be found there. And He said, I will not do it if I find thirty there.
v. 31. And he said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord: Peradventure there shall be twenty found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for twenty's sake.
v. 32. And he said, Oh, let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten's sake. The entire prayer is a splendid example of the importunity of the believer's prayer. Cf Luk_11:8. That is the chief content of the true intercessory pleading, namely, to ask the Lord for mercy, for forgiveness. Such prayer is well-pleasing to the Lord; for its sake He still preserves the sinful world, giving to the unbelievers time for repentance. The lesson of true prayer cannot be learned too well.
v. 33. And the Lord went His way as soon as He had left communing with Abraham; and Abraham returned into his place. The Lord had patiently and gladly listened to the intercession of Abraham, and it was for his sake that He arranged for the escape of Lot. But so far as the cities were concerned, the measure of their sins was full, their punishment was bound to come. And so the Lord made arrangements to carry out His intention, while Abraham returned to his home near Hebron.