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
  1. Have you ever experienced that kind of sweet, unhurried fellowship with God—like Abraham lingering with the Lord?
  2. What promises from God are you still waiting on, and how does Abraham’s 25-year journey encourage you today?
  3. 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?
  4. When has God answered your prayers in a way you didn’t exactly expect, yet it was even better?
  5. 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.”


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The Greener Grass Trap: What Lot’s Choice Teaches Us About God’s Will

Today’s Passages – Genesis 13 – 16 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)

(Second Milers also read – Matthew 9 – 10; Proverbs 5; Psalms 21 – 25)

Read the “0105 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Psalm 119:105

Read previous posts from today’s passage – “Plain Stupid;” “Back to Square One – Almost;” “Balanced and Biblical Separation;” “Relationships are More Important than Riches;” “Who is Melchizedek;” and “Good Friends are Hard to Come By.”

Have you ever been tempted to move for a better job, bigger house, or more exciting city—only to wonder later if you left God’s best behind?

“And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere, before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.” (Genesis 13:10)

“But the men of Sodom were wicked before the Lord exceedingly” (Genesis 13:13)

Returning from Egypt: Contrasting Desires

Have you ever been tempted to move for a better job, bigger house, or more exciting city—only to wonder later if you left God’s best behind?

The story of Lot is really a sad one. Lot came from the same stock as Abraham, lived in the same places, seemingly had the same training and influences; yet Lot had dreams and desires that were diametrically opposite to those of Abraham. In the account given us here in Genesis 13, we see Abraham and Lot both returning from a time of sojourning in Egypt. Egypt was certainly a busy place loaded with people. It had  culture, education, and more pleasures than Lot had ever seen. Abraham had his fill of the big city. He wanted to get back to the place in Canaan where he built an altar for the Lord; the place where God promised to bless him. You see, Abraham finally realized that he didn’t need all of the excitement of the big city – he just needed God.

Have you ever found yourself missing the ‘excitement’ of your old life before Christ?

Strife Over the Land

Not long after they returned to Canaan, the land of promise, it seemed that Lot and Abraham began to fuss about the size of land their cattle were grazing on and whether or not it was big enough to provide for both of their herds. These men were both already very wealthy, yet it seems that Lot wanted more. Maybe he was tired of living under the shadow of Uncle Abraham. Maybe he didn’t like all of those righteous rules that Abraham governed his home by. Lot missed Egypt. He missed the exhilaration of the city life. Abraham senses Lot’s frustration and offers to let Lot separate from him. I am sure he divided up the livestock and sent Lot away with plenty. He also gives Lot the pick of the surrounding land. He told Lot that if he chose east, he would go west. You see, Abraham didn’t need what this world could offer him: he only needed God. It seems that he had learned much from the errors of his previous move into Egypt.

The Lure of Sodom

Lot, however, decides that Sodom is the place he ought to raise his family. I believe that there were three attractions that lured Lot to Sodom:

1      There were lots of people in Sodom. Now there is nothing wrong with people. I love people and, more importantly, God loves people. Jesus died to save people. However, it seems that whenever you get a lot of people grouped together in one place, wickedness just pours right in. Verse 13 tells us that Sodom was an exceedingly wicked place. Lot should have been repulsed by it, yet instead he was enamored by it. By the way, his attraction to this large number of people was clearly not for the purpose of evangelizing them. We will learn later in chapter 19 that Lot influences no one in the city for God.

2      There was a lot of pleasure in Sodom. He said it reminded him of Egypt. The Bible tells us that there is pleasure in sin for a season; but the wages of that kind of pleasure is death. Lot was attracted to the fast life.

3      Thirdly, we see that Sodom was a place of wealth and prosperity. There was plenty of money in Sodom. It was well watered.  The livestock would do well there. Lot saw the chance to make some good money: maybe even a little more than ole Uncle Abe. Again, there is nothing wrong with money. I like what money can buy; but the love of money is the root of all evil. Lot wasn’t really concerned with the wickedness because all he could see was the dollars.

Which of these—people, pleasure, or prosperity—tempts you most today?

Don’t Chase Greener Grass

Through the years, I have seen a lot of saved people (remember, the Bible calls him “just Lot”) make the same mistake that Lot made. They leave the place of blessing where God is protecting them and providing for them, only to trade it in for a place where they think the grass is “well-watered.” My pastor in Bible College used to say that the grass may look greener, but it just might be artificial turf. Be very careful that you stay inside the perfect will of God. Don’t trade in the spiritual, eternal blessings for the temporary pleasures of this world.

This week, pray about any ‘Sodom’ temptations in your life—and share in the comments how God is speaking to you.


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