Genesis 18: 20-33 - Persistent Prayer & Appropriate Fear

... the Lord told Abraham, “I have heard a great outcry from Sodom and Gomorrah, because their sin is so flagrant. I am going down to see if their actions are as wicked as I have heard. If not, I want to know.”
The other men turned and headed toward Sodom, but the Lord remained with Abraham. Abraham approached him and said, “Will you sweep away both the righteous and the wicked? Suppose you find fifty righteous people living there in the city—will you still sweep it away and not spare it for their sakes? Surely you wouldn’t do such a thing, destroying the righteous along with the wicked. Why, you would be treating the righteous and the wicked exactly the same! Surely you wouldn’t do that! Should not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?”
And the Lord replied, “If I find fifty righteous people in Sodom, I will spare the entire city for their sake.”
Then Abraham spoke again. “Since I have begun, let me speak further to my Lord, even though I am but dust and ashes. Suppose there are only forty-five righteous people rather than fifty? Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?”
And the Lord said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five righteous people there.”
Then Abraham pressed his request further. “Suppose there are only forty?”
And the Lord replied, “I will not destroy it for the sake of the forty.”
“Please don’t be angry, my Lord,” Abraham pleaded. “Let me speak—suppose only thirty righteous people are found?”
And the Lord replied, “I will not destroy it if I find thirty.”
Then Abraham said, “Since I have dared to speak to the Lord, let me continue—suppose there are only twenty?”
And the Lord replied, “Then I will not destroy it for the sake of the twenty.”
Finally, Abraham said, “Lord, please don’t be angry with me if I speak one more time. Suppose only ten are found there?”
And the Lord replied, “Then I will not destroy it for the sake of the ten.”
When the Lord had finished his conversation with Abraham, he went on his way, and Abraham returned to his tent.

Genesis 18: 20-33 [ESV]

 

Commentary: There are many lessons to be learned from this passage. But, two in particular strike me:

1)    The consistent and persistent prayer Abraham has with the LORD GOD. Abraham asked the LORD to spare a certain number of righteous if the LORD found such a number. Throughout the conversation Abraham continued to plead with the LORD. This is a lesson for all of us, never to give up praying for something which is on our hearts. GOD listens!

2)    When Abraham approached the LORD, he did so knowing with whom he was talking: the Almighty Creator of the universe! Each time Abraham addressed GOD, he acknowledged who GOD is and who he was in relation to GOD: “… let me speak further to my Lord, even though I am but dust and ashes.” (v27). There seems to be a foreshadowing reference to Isaiah 6 when the prophet Isaiah approached the LORD GOD and he bowed before the LORD with the cry, “Woe is me!”; and it took an angel to cover his lips with a touch of coal in order to cleanse him before the perfect GOD. There is definitely the same fear in both men as they approached and spoke with the LORD GOD. For GOD “delights in those who fear Him, and put their hope in His unfailing love.” (Psalm 147: 11).

Lastly, remember prayer is not something we may do to persuade or bargain with the LORD, it is something we may do to align ourselves with His will.