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Blessings through Abraham

In the NT James tells that Abraham was called a friend of God. Here in this section we find the LORD treating Abraham as His friend as He shares with Abraham just what He is planning to do concerning Sodom and Gomorrah.

Jesus' words to His own disciples in Jn.15:15 are appropriate at this point:

"No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you."

The hospitality that Abraham had offered to his unexpected guests is over and they are leaving. Like a good host Abraham accompanies them some of the way. Most of you will do the same when you have guests – you'll at least see them to the door! In Abraham's culture a good host would walk a certain distance with his guests as they move on.

The LORD treats Abraham as a friend and decides to share with Him what is happening. There are a number of reasons supplied as to just why the LORD acts the way He does.

·       Firstly, Abraham will himself become a mighty nation and the source of blessing for others v.18.

·       Secondly, the LORD has made a special choice of Abraham – he belongs to the LORD in a unique way v.19a.

·       Thirdly, Abraham has been called specifically so that his household might learn what it is to live uprightly before the LORD v.19b.

Privilege brings with it responsibility. If Abraham has been so highly favoured by the LORD then the LORD expects Abraham to use his privileges wisely.

Of course it would have been possible for Abraham to hear the news simply as information and nothing more. Returning home he might have thought to himself that he wasn't surprised after all those Sodomites had it coming to them. He might have simply gone back to his tens and said to Sarah "Do you know what I've just heard…" But if he had acted like that this passage would probably never have made it into the Scriptures – it is here because Abraham reacted well and leaves us two lessons to learn.

1.     He becomes by his intercession a type of the LORD Jesus who would also become one who intercedes on behalf of others.

2.     He leaves us an example of how our own intercession might be ordered.

But we mustn't get ahead of ourselves. Let's consider just what the LORD reveals to His friend Abraham:

The two men – the angels who have been accompanying the LORD – are off to Sodom and they have a specific mission.

Sodom and Gomorrah are exceedingly wicked places and this has come to the LORD's attention. He is by no means indifferent! The LORD hates sin – He always has and He always will - because it is a total contradiction of His character:

Ps.5:4-6 "For you are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil may not dwell with you. The boastful shall not stand before your eyes; you hate all evildoers. You destroy those who speak lies; the LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man."

 Or again:

Ps.11:5 "The Lord tests the righteous, but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence."

Hab.2:13 "You who are of purer eyes than to see evil and cannot look at wrong…"

The words "the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah" can either mean that the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah themselves are crying out to God or that others are crying out testifying to their wickedness. It amounts to the same thing. These are wicked, sinful places and the LORD will not leave it go on and on endlessly.

We shouldn't interpret v.21 as though the LORD was ignorant of the situation in Sodom and Gomorrah and had to go to find out just what that situation was. Rather we should understand that the LORD will only act upon sure and certain proof of wrong doing. Judgment will only fall on those who are truly guilty and worthy of punishment. The attentive reader of God's Word will be aware that our attention has already been drawn to the wickedness of Sodom back in Gen.13:13 "Now the men of Sodom were wicked, great sinners against the LORD."

Thus we may learn that the LORD is not eager to judge, He is not seeking the earliest possible opportunity to punish sinful offenders. We must also learn however that the time does come when His judgment does and will fall. When it does it will be completely just.

The time had come and the sin of these inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah has indeed finally found them out. Know of a certainty that your sin too will find you out! You may be able to continue with what seems like a degree of impunity for a time ignoring the calls of the LORD to repent and to trust Him. But there will come a time when the Lamb's Book of Life will be opened and read out – will your name be there? Now is the time to be reconciled to God. Don't keep putting off until tomorrow what should be done today! It is now the day of salvation but the door of opportunity will not stand forever open before you!

Abraham has already come to the aid of a Sodom in difficulty. Back in ch.14 principally to secure the release of his nephew Lot Abraham had gone to war. Now here in ch.18 Abraham's interests do not appear to be dominated by family considerations.

Abraham will not be indifferent. The LORD has declared that blessings to the world will flow from Abraham and while that will chiefly be fulfilled in the coming of Jesus here Abraham already demonstrates some compassionate concerns for those under the threat of judgment as he intercedes for the city.

However as Abraham prays the thing that is uppermost on his mind in the glory of the LORD and the reputation of His Holy Name – see how he dwells on this in vv.23-25.

As he comes to prayer a number of things are to be highlighted.

The LORD has not left Him to go with the two angels down to Sodom. Abraham does not hurry off either but remains standing in the LORD's presence. The information he has received must be used rightly. So he draws near – what a lovely expression that is for the attitude of prayer. We've been looking at that this morning in Eph.2:18 and here is an example of a man drawing near.

The question he puts at the beginning of this time of intercession v.25 "Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?" is not the sort that requires an answer – Abraham is making something of a declaration of faith as he asks this question - it is unthinkable to Abraham that the LORD might do anything that does not accord with justice. At the same time I want you to notice what Abraham has come to believe about the LORD his God – this is no local tribal deity that Abraham is now following this is the LORD who holds sway over all the earth! How encouraging that should be to us too as we come in prayer to the LORD. Our LORD cannot and will not do anything amiss and His power knows no limitations geographical or otherwise.

Abraham doesn't pretend that the men of Sodom are not as bad as they really are. He doesn't contest the fact of judgment at all. What he does plead is that should just 50 be found in the city who were different from that couldn't the whole city be spared so that these righteous ones might not perish for the sins of others.

One commentator makes the interesting suggestion that the number 50 might represent half the number of able bodied men in the city. Can't the city be spared if just half are righteous? In the subsequent interchange Abraham's pleas are marked with a very sense of humility. Abraham may well be the friend of God but that does not mean that he will forget the honour and the grandeur that are rightfully His.

As the LORD acquiesces to Abraham's first request Abraham is encouraged to pray on and on. He fears he may well be provoking the LORD – twice he pleads that the LORD not become angry with him as he persists with his intercession – no glibness no triteness – Abraham is dealing with the LORD God of All.

Jesus in the NT told a parable to teach His disciples that they should always pray and never give up. The parable is found in Luke 18 and is known as the parable of the unjust judge or the persistent widow. Jesus summarizes at the end of the parable like this:

Lk.18:7 "And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily."

Abraham has begun by pleading for suspension of judgment if 50 righteous are found in the city – he continues until he has secured a promise that judgment wil not fall if just 10 righteous be found there.

And then the interview comes to an end.

It had all begun because the LORD had shared with Abraham. He shares with Him so that Abraham will indeed pray. We must never think that He is unwilling or reluctant to save sinners. He is far more willing to save sinners than ever we are to pray for them! And having initiated this round of intercession it is equally the LORD who brings it to a conclusion.

The LORD goes His way when He has finished speaking with Abraham!

In the following chapter we'll find that there weren't even the small number of 10 righteous folk in the city and judgment cannot be stayed any longer. Nevertheless we will see the LORD saving the only ones who were in any way righteous at that time – Lot and his two daughters, his wife could have been saved too but choose to look back with longing and was thus destroyed. How tied and wedded to our sins we can be! But oh how good and compassionate is the LORD!

There are several examples of Jesus intervening and praying on behalf of those who are in difficulties:

He prayed for Peter: Satan wanted to sift him like wheat but Jesus prayed that His faith might not fail. Indeed after the resurrection Peter was strengthened and enabled to play a leading role in serving the Body of Christ.

He interceded on behalf of His disciples that they might receive the Holy Spirit .

And perhaps the most famous intercessory prayer of all would be found in Jn.17 where Jesus prays for His disciples and for all those who would believe their testimony and become in turn His disciples.