A Friend’s Prayer for a Friend: The Power of Intercession
Today’s Passage – Listen to Genesis 17 – 19 (Audio link).
Read along at Blue Letter Bible – Genesis 17
(Second Milers also read – Matthew 11 – 12; Proverbs 6; Psalms 26 – 30)
Listen to today’s Scripture Song – Psalm 25
Read the “0106 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by Charles Haddon Spurgeon.
“And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.“ (Jas 2:23)
“And said, My Lord, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant:” (Gen 18:3)
In our text today, we read about Abraham, the friend of God, interceding on behalf of his own friend and nephew, Lot.
Sweet Fellowship with the Lord
Genesis 18 is a wonderful account which tells of the communion that Abraham had with his God. In the passage, three “men” appear at the tent of Abraham. We are not sure who all of these “men” are. Some have concluded that one of them was the Lord, and the other two were angels, which is certainly a good possibility because the very next chapter begins with two angels going to rescue Lot from the destruction of Sodom. Others believe, however, that these three men were physical manifestations of the three members of the Trinity. I tend to agree with the former opinion but it is interesting that though there were three men, Abraham always only addresses them in the singular form as one. Nevertheless, the Lord and Abraham enjoy a sweet time of fellowship during this time. You get the feeling from the passage that they were not rushing to conclude their time together. A meal was prepared while the Lord waited.
Speaking of Waiting – God Reaffirms His Promise to Abraham
During this time, God, no doubt, spoke to Abraham about many things; but one thing that he told Abraham was that he would, in fact, have a son that would be born to Sarah. The miraculous thing about all of this is that Sarah and Abraham both are well beyond the childbearing years. Abraham and Sarah waited 25 years from the time that God first promised them a child to the time when their son, Isaac, was finally born (see Gen 12:4 & 21:5). God is faithful to do all that He says that He will do in His time. During this afternoon of fellowship with Abraham, God reassures him again of the promise.
Abraham’s Concern for Lot
God reveals something else to Abraham during their time together. As Abraham was walking with the Lord as He was leaving, God shares with Abraham his planned destruction of the city of Sodom. God didn’t have to tell him, but He did. Of course, this got Abraham’s attention because he had a nephew in Sodom that he cared for. Abraham interceded for the city of Sodom, particularly for Lot and his family. He is begging God to spare the city, but his concern is really about Lot. The Bible tells us that Abraham was the friend of God, but here we see that he was also a good friend to Lot. God never promises to spare the city and interestingly, He never promises to spare Lot; but He did say that He would spare the city if He found ten righteous people there, which he did not find. However, God does spare Lot and the family members that were willing to listen to Lot’s warning of the coming destruction.
God Remembered Abraham
I want you to notice something very important, however:
“And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in the which Lot dwelt.” (Gen 19:29)
Did you catch it? It does not say that God spared Lot because he was righteous, though we know that the New Testament speaks of him as being “just” (justified – 2 Pe 2:7). It also does not say that God remembered Lot. It does say that God remembered Abraham. What did God remember about Abraham? He remembered Abraham’s intercession on behalf of his nephew, Lot. God spared Lot and his family because of the prayer of Abraham.
The Power of Intercessory Prayer
What a wonderful picture we have here of prayer. God communing in sweet fellowship with his child. God revealing something to that child that would be of concern to him. God giving that child an opportunity to intercede, to pray for that very concern. And then the best part: God answering the request of the child: not exactly the way he wanted it; but a wonderful answer none the less. Kind of causes you to want to spend a little time in prayer yourself, doesn’t it?
Questions for Reflection
- Have you ever experienced that kind of sweet, unhurried fellowship with God—like Abraham lingering with the Lord?
- What promises from God are you still waiting on, and how does Abraham’s 25-year journey encourage you today?
- Who in your life is a “Lot”—someone you care about who needs God’s mercy—and how is the Lord prompting you to intercede for them?
- When has God answered your prayers in a way you didn’t exactly expect, yet it was even better?
- If God “remembers” the prayers of His friends, what concern will you bring to Him in prayer right now?
Take a moment to pray for a friend today.
Read related previous posts from this passage – “Don’t Look Back,” “Abraham Did a Little Walking With God, Too,” “Walk Thou Before Me and Be Thou Perfect” and “God Knows You.”
Posted in Devotions, Thoughts from Genesis and tagged Abraham, Bible Study, Devotional, Friend of God, friendship, Genesis 18, intercession, intercession for a friend, intercessory prayer, Lot, prayer by Phil Erickson with 8 comments.
The Saviour of the World
Today’s Passage – 1 John 3 – 3 John 1 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)
(Second Milers also read – Psalms 121 – 125; Proverbs 25)
Listen to this morning’s Scripture Song – Ephesians 4:32
Read the “1225 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.
“And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.” (1 John 4:14)
If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent us an educator.
If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist.
If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist.
If our greatest need had been pleasure, God would have sent us an entertainer.
But our greatest need was forgiveness, so God sent us a Savior.
I submit two thoughts for your consideration this morning from 1 John 4:14:
1 The Exclusiveness of Candidates for Saviour – Notice the definite article “the,” indicating that the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, is the only Saviour for the world. There are not many ways to be saved, only one.
“He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” (1 John 5:12)
The disciples of John the Baptist came to Jesus once and asked Him if He was the one that they were waiting for, or “look we for another” (Luke 7:20). Jesus replied emphatically that He was the One who fulfilled all of the Biblical requirements for being the Messiah, and He also added that we should not be “offended” in Him. Jesus is “the” Saviour, and He is also “the” Lord.
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6)
2 The Inclusiveness of Candidates for Salvation – Notice the word “world” – it is the same word that is used in John 3:16:
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” (John 3:16-17)
The word, “world” (κόσμος [kosmos]), does not mean just a select few; it means everybody. God wants everybody to receive the gift of the Saviour. He is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Pe 3:9). Unfortunately, not everybody will come to the Saviour for salvation because they reject “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6), choosing instead to be the god of their own lives. What a shame.
What a gift God gave us when Jesus came to this earth 2,000 years ago to redeem us!
“13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” (Tit 2:13-14)
Thank You, Father for sending us Your Son, the Saviour; and thank You, Jesus, for being willing to come.
Cindy and I wish all of you a very Merry Christmas!
Posted in Thoughts from 1 John and tagged 1 John, Christmas, Daily Devotions, Devotional, Salvation, Savior by Phil Erickson with 2 comments.