4.9.2025 Prayer Room – Genesis 18

GENESIS 18:22-33

In the verses leading up to this (v 16-21), God reveals His character and desire for Abraham to be formed so that God may fulfill His promise. He does not hide what He is about to do but invites Abraham into His kingdom work. We also see that God hears the cry of His people and the land. 

Abraham Intercedes for Sodom

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.

HEAR:

Abraham draws near to God, praying from God’s character with both humility and boldness. He is persistent and specific in his intercession. We see that God hears and responds to Abraham similarly to how He responds to Moses’ intercession in Exodus 32.

Spend some time in listening prayer:

• Sit in this text and let the Lord lead you. Sit and draw near to Him.

• Consider where you have been placed; how might God use your situation to invite you into His work and form your heart to be more like His?

• Are there prayers you hold back from God for fear or doubt that He will not respond? See that your prayers do not fall on deaf ears but are like incense before God. (Revelation 5:8, Psalm 141:2)

• What would it look like to pray persistent and bold prayers? Imagine how that would affect not only you but those around you and your city.

RESPOND:

God used this opportunity to draw out a heart of compassion in Abraham, that he would earnestly pray on behalf of all in the city, not just his nephew. Abraham’s intercession isn’t only for the people of Sodom, but also in perspective of God’s glory. He is saying, “God, let not the people say you destroy the righteous along with the wicked.” It’s not that God needs Abraham’s advice here but that Abraham needs to see and learn God’s heart. God meets him at each step, revealing abundant mercy. 

Respond to God in prayer:

• Pray the character of the Lord back to Him. (Exodus 34:5-7, Psalm 103) Pray that our hearts would be formed more like His.

• Do you have a heart of compassion, even for those you want to say do not deserve it? Bring this before God in repentance, remember the mercy you have received, and ask the Spirit for an overflow of that same mercy toward others.

• Abraham’s intercession points us to the perfect intercessor, Jesus, who is ever interceding on our behalf. Intercede for those around you and the city of Boston.