By: Therman Hodge

(Genesis 18:23-33)

Introduction:

1. Beginning of association with Sodom (Genesis 13:10–13).
2. Though Lot seemed to remain faithful, the consequences of his choice seemed to have caused him to suffer many afflictions (2 Peter 2:7–8).
3. Sodom thought to have been in the area of the Dead Sea.
4. Sodom was one of the most wicked cities about which anyone has ever read.
   a. Every reference in the Bible emphasizes its moral corruption.
   b. Sodom was so closely associated with sex perversion that its name has been permanently identified with perverts and their sin, the sin of sodomy (Genesis 19:5; 1 Kings 14:24; Deuteronomy 23:17; Romans 1:26–27).
   Golden Text: “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (James 5:16 NKJV).
   I. Study of theses lessons is not for historical value but for practical application in our own lives.
   A. We should consider the fact that prayer is one of the most effective forces in the Christian’s entire experience.
   B. Those who pray effectively must realize that God “is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think…” (Ephesians 3:20), and being wise and good, He will not fail to hear our prayers if we live before Him as we should.
   C. This implies that our first concern should be to make sure that we are enjoying the fellowship and the companionship of the Lord.
   D. We should strive to have an attitude like Abraham and remain righteous before God so that we can commune with Him as a friend.
   E. Both the attitude of God and His people, with reference to prayer, is expressed in Philippians 4:6–7; “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
   II. In a Position to Pray (Genesis 18:23a) “and Abraham came near.”
   A. In the context, we find that three angels (called men in the text) came to where Abraham was living.
5. This had been Abraham’s dwelling place since the separation from Lot, and it was “by the oaks of Mamre, which are in Hebron” (Genesis 13:18).
6. Several years had passed since that separation, and Lot was now a permanent resident in the city of Sodom.
   B. The visitors were called “men” in the eighteenth chapter but two of them were called “angels” in the 19th chapter.
7. The term “angel” in the Bible literally means “messenger” and can be applied to either a heavenly or an earthly being.
8. Clearly, these were celestial messengers (Hebrews 13:2).
   C. By reading verse 22, we can see that Abraham drew near to Jehovah.
9. We do not know the exact identity of this being.
10. Adam Clark thinks it was Jesus Christ since the name Jehovah was never given to a human being.
11. If this is not so, then the angel must have been one of exceeding high rank.
    D. Abraham’s supplication in our lesson is the first prayer recorded in the Bible.
12. It is the prayer of a good man, a friend of God, for men who had chosen to associate with the worldly rather than with God.
13. It was for others rather than for Abraham himself.
14. Lot had not shown the right attitude toward his uncle Abraham, but that did not keep his uncle from making a supplication on his behalf.
15. Abraham’s character and attitude forcefully illustrate the spirit of our golden text.
    III. Abraham’s Petition (Genesis 18:23b–32).
    A. “…Would You also destroy the righteous with the wicked?”
16. The question implies that Abraham was not asking God to spare the wicked men, but that he was primarily interested in the righteous.
17. His reason for asking that mercy be shown the wicked by sparing the city was that the righteous would thereby be saved.
18. Sometimes the righteous have to suffer while God is working out His will regarding the wicked.
19. The question of not destroying the righteous with the wicked was the basis for Abraham’s intercession.
20. When we pray, we should always be able to give a reason, both to God and for our own conscience, for the petition we make.
    B. “Suppose there were fifty righteous within the city; would You also destroy the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous that were in it?” (Genesis 18:24).
21. It is reasonable to assume that Abraham would not have asked Jehovah to spare the city if his nephew Lot and his family had not lived there, and it is quite certain that Abraham knew the righteousness of Lot (2 Peter 2:7–8).
    a. Sparing the city from destruction was the only way to save Lot and his family, as Abraham saw it.
22. The principle involved is of divine origin.
    a. Jesus told His disciples that they are the salt of the earth, and since salt is both a seasoning and preserving factor, it is evident that the world would be unacceptable and would perish, were it not for the righteous people who are in it.
    b. We have no way of knowing how often people are saved from catastrophe because of the presence of the saints of God among them.
23. The Bible gives no reason for Abraham beginning with the possibility of there being fifty righteous people in Sodom.
    C. “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?” (Genesis 18:25).
24. This is an appeal for justice, not necessarily mercy.
    a. Abraham was concerned that the “reputation” of Jehovah among the peoples of the earth would be of the highest order.
    b. Reminds us of the intercession made by Moses for the children of Israel (Numbers 14:11–19).
25. God’s people should always be concerned about the Lord and His work; since He is often judged by the conduct of His people, it is of utmost importance that every child of God live in harmony with the principles of truth and righteousness.
26. God will always do right!
    D. “So the Lord said, ‘If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes’” (Genesis 18:26).
27. Further proof of Abraham’s ulterior motive of preserving the righteous.
28. God’s answer to Abraham shows that He is both righteous and merciful.
    E. “Then Abraham answered and said, ‘Indeed now, I who am but dust and ashes have taken it upon myself to speak to the Lord’” (Genesis 18:27).
29. These words show how Abraham felt in the presence of the Lord.
30. Humility of heart is one of the essential characteristics of those who are acceptable to the Lord.
    F. “‘Suppose there were five less than the fifty righteous; would You destroy all of the city for lack of five?’ So He said, ‘If I find there forty-five, I will not destroy it’” (Genesis 18:28).
31. The earnest persistence of Abraham should be carefully observed.
    a. To continue steadfast in prayer is one of the marks of a faithful child of God (Romans 12:12).
    b. As long as Abraham continued to pray, Jehovah continued to answer him.
    c. This is the way Jehovah taught His disciples to pray (Matthew 7:7–11).
32. Beginning with fifty, Abraham came all the way down to ten, and Jehovah said He would spare the city if ten righteous were found therein.
    a. We do not know exactly why Abraham stopped at ten, but the next number in order was zero. That would be paramount to asking God to spare the city regardless of the number of righteous in it, or if there were any righteous in it at all.
    b. In addition, Abraham may have thought that if there were less than ten righteous in the city and it was completely wicked, he could not conscientiously pray that it be spared (1 John 5:16).
    IV. When the Prayer Ended (Genesis 19:33).
    A. “So the Lord went His way as soon as He had finished speaking with Abraham; and Abraham returned to his place” (Genesis 18:33).
33. Jehovah did not leave until Abraham had completed his intercession.
    a. The faithful child of God can be assured of the same divine consideration.
    b. See Philippians 4:6–7. God solemnly promises to hear the prayers of His people, but that does not necessarily mean that He will always do exactly as He is requested.
    c. Jesus and Paul prayed and were heard, but neither received the specific thing that was requested (Hebrews 5:7; 2 Corinthians 12:7–10).
    d. They did, however, receive strength to bear what was placed upon them.
34. The fact that Sodom was destroyed is proof that ten righteous could not be found in the city.
35. God did demonstrate that He does not treat the righteous with the wicked.
36. Read 2 Peter 2:6–9 to find out how God delivers the righteous.