In my first blog post for the new year I mentioned I would be looking for the subject of prayer as we read through the Bible together. Well in Genesis 18 we find a very interesting example of prayer. Abraham is talking face-to-face with God over the plight of Sodom and Gomorrah. He is standing eye-to-eye with the pre-incarnate Jesus. Read how this prayer time goes below:
22. So the men turned from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the Lord. 23. Then Abraham drew near and said, “Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? 24. 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? 25. Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?” 26. And the Lord said, “If I find at Sodom fifty righteous in the city, I will spare the whole place for their sake.”
27. Abraham answered and said, “Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes. 28. Suppose five of the fifty righteous are lacking. Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?” And he said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.” 29. Again he spoke to him and said, “Suppose forty are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of forty I will not do it.” 30. Then he said, “Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak. Suppose thirty are found there.” He answered, “I will not do it, if I find thirty there.” 31. He said, “Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord. Suppose twenty are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of twenty I will not destroy it.” 32. Then he said, “Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak again but this once. Suppose ten are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of ten I will not destroy it.” 33. And the Lord went his way, when he had finished speaking to Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place.
Just a few observations here:
- I think it’s okay to bargain with God. Abraham did here. He went back and forth with Him. I believe that some times we think this is being unspiritual when we do it, but I don’t think it is. Think about it.
- Abraham’s prayer was not a selfish one. He was bargaining for the lives of his loved ones.
- Although he was bargaining with God he was respectful. He wasn’t being abusive or curt in his prayers.
- It was obvious that Abraham loved God and His Kingdom.
And then surprise surprise Mark 6 has an episode where in the midst of busyness and ministry Jesus gets alone to pray. Sometimes we think we are too busy to pray and that may be just the time when we need it the most.
45 Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. 46 And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray (ESV)
Do you have something we can all benefit from prayer that you could share with the rest of us?
Father God I pray that we would all put the priority of prayer high on our list of things to do and experience each day. May we never grow tired of talk with You. In Jesus Name we pray, Amen!
Dave (dmbaldwin)
Sixty-six books in a year 