Speaking Boldly

AFTER each test Abraham’s faith becomes stronger. In Genesis 18 we have wonderful evidence of this fact. Here Abraham becomes the great prevailing intercessor for his backslidden nephew, Lot. The wickedness of Sodom and Gomorrah had reached its peak, and God determines to destroy these wicked cities. Before He does, the Lord informs Abraham of His intentions. How wonderful to know that we can be on such good terms with Almighty God that He is willing to take us into His confidence and inform us beforehand of His plans. We read in Genesis 18:17:

“Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do?”

God is ready now to destroy the wicked cities, and Abraham immediately begins to intercede in behalf of the city, for the sake of the righteous who are dwelling therein. We suggest that you read very carefully Genesis 18:23–33. In these verses we have a marvelous picture of Abraham, the intercessor. He has now grown so far in the life of faith that he dares to stand alone between God and the doomed cities to hold back the judgment of the Almighty. Abraham says to the Lord boldly:

“Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city. Will you then sweep away the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous who are in it?” (Genesis 18:24).

And God answers him:

“If I find at Sodom fifty righteous in the city, I will spare the whole place for their sake” (Genesis 18:26).

Abraham then becomes bolder, and reduces the number of the righteous in Sodom to forty-five, then thirty, then twenty, and finally to ten, and says:

“Suppose ten are found there” (Genesis 18:32).

And again God answers him and says:

“For the sake of ten I will not destroy it” (Genesis 18:32).

Adapted and modified excerpts from Studies in the Life of Abraham by M. R. De Haan (1891-1964)
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, ESV © 2016 by Crossway Bibles.
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