Valuable Takeaways from Abraham’s Prayer

By Capazin Thornton

Abraham’s face-to-face prayer with God in Genesis 18 is remarkable. Abraham was respectful, but persistent. God listened patiently. Abraham asked God to spare the cities of the plains around him for the sake of the righteous in them.

First, for the sake of 50 righteous, then 45, then 40, then 30, then 20, then 10. In each instance, God said He would spare the cities for that number. Abraham stopped at 10. Perhaps he was thinking of his nephew Lot and Lot’s family who lived in Sodom.

When the angels went to Lot’s house, men of the city surrounded the house and threatened to brutally rape Lot’s guests. This sealed the fate of the cities. Out-and-out sexual immorality is the chief reason for the destruction.

While the cities of the plains were destroyed, there are valuable takeaways we can glean from Abraham’s prayer.

Valuable Takeaways from Abraham’s Prayer

Valuable Takeaway 1- God is very longsuffering

God gives people ample time to repent—to change their thinking, ways, and direction. Judgment comes when people haughtily refuse to turn from sin to God.

Valuable Takeaway 2 – God will always do the right thing

Abraham asked the Lord, “Would You also destroy the righteous with the wicked?” He continued: “Far be it from you to do such a thing as this, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be as the wicked; far be it from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” (Gen 18:23, 25)

Abraham had faith in God. But he did not have the Scriptures. In them, we find certainty that God will always do right.

“The Lord is righteous in all His ways, gracious in all His works.”—Ps 145:17

“He is the Rock, His work is perfect; for all His ways are justice, a God of truth and without injustice; righteous and upright is He.”—Deut. 32:4

Valuable Takeaway 3- God spared a city for one righteous

God planned to deliver Lot and his family from the destruction. Lot is described as a righteous man whose soul was vexed every day by the lifestyle of the people of Sodom.

But when Lot tried to convince his married daughters and sons-in-law to flee from Sodom, they ignored him. So, they perished.

In the end, the angels delivered Lot, his wife, and their two virgin daughters. Unfortunately, Lot’s wife did not heed the angel’s warning, “Do not look behind you.” She looked back and turned into a pillar of salt.

Two other cities were destroyed. But Zoar was spared. That is because Lot asked the angels to allow him to go there instead of into the mountains. The angel said to Lot, “See I have favored you concerning this thing also, in that I will not overthrow this city for which you have spoken” (Gen 19:21).

Valuable Takeaway 4 – God will send angels to protect the righteous

The Bible says God “remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the destruction when He overthrew the cities in which Lot had dwelt.” God was mindful of His covenant with Abraham and Abraham’s intercession.

After leaving Sodom, Lot asked the angel to let him escape to Zoar. The angel said to Lot, “Hurry! Escape there. For I cannot do anything until you arrive there” (Gen 19:22).

God’s angels minister for the heirs of salvation. They carry out God’s Word, “heeding the voice of His Word.” When Christ believers declare God’s Word, God’s angels pay attention and minister on our behalf.

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What valuable takeaways from Abraham’s intercession do you see? Feel free to post your comments.

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Capazin Thornton is a Christian speaker and author in Orange County, California.