INTERCESSORY PRAYER

"Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth" (2 Timothy 2:1-4).

Devotion 6 of 17 SCRIPTURAL EXAMPLES OF INTERCESSION

The Word of God contains the will and purpose of God. Things that occurred in the past "happened" for our examples (1 Cor 10:11). Not only is this true regarding sin, and warnings to abstain from it; it is also true of intercession. We will find great strength in reviewing and believing these unusual records. They are of people like you that effectively interceded for others.

ABRAHAM, THE INTERCESSOR Abraham intercedes for Sodom

Abraham was "the friend of God" (James 2:23). As such, he could not remain inactive at the announcement of the destruction of an entire city. The city was wicked, to be sure. So wicked, indeed, that God could not tolerate it. Sodom and the cities of the plain were abominable to the Lord. Notwithstanding, Abraham had a nephew in that vicinity, whose righteous soul was vexed every day because of the depraved manner of life surrounding him (2 Pet 2:8). The record of Abraham's intercession is one of the most arresting texts in Scripture. It reveals the power of prayer: greater still, the effect of having power with God. With powerful modesty, Abraham pleads for divine consideration. "That be far from Thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from Thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? And the LORD said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes. And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes: Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt Thou destroy all the city for lack of five? And he said, If I find there forty and five, I will not destroy it. And he spake unto Him yet again, and said, Peradventure there shall be forty found there. And He said, I will not do it for forty's sake. And he said unto Him, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Peradventure there shall thirty be found there. And He said, I will not do it, if I find thirty And he said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord: Peradventure there shall be twenty found there. And He said, I will not destroy it for twenty's sake. And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And He said, I will not destroy it for ten's sake" (Gen 18:25-32). I have often contemplated the possible results if Abraham would have continued lowering the numbers. Perhaps he lived close enough to God to know when to stop. That appears to be more consistent with the nature of faith and the status of Abraham. Note that God Himself provided the first number. "If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes." Abraham does not begin looking for fifty righteous people "within the city." He seems to sense that such a search would be in vain. In a powerful exhibition of faith and understanding, the father of the faithful presents his case. The appeal is to a righteous God, Whom, he knows, will not destroy the righteous with the wicked. Of itself, that was an amazing insight. Remember, Abraham had no Bible, the Ten Commandments had not been given, and very little communication had passed between God and man! Abraham makes five appeals, and every one of them is answered in the affirmative by the God of heaven. He asks God to preserve the city for the sake of FORTY-FIVE righteous, FORTY, THIRTY, TWENTY, and TEN. Why did the Lord respond favorably to Abraham's intercession? Was it because he had met a prescribed form? Indeed, it was not! So far as Scripture is concerned, no form for prayer had yet been revealed. It was because of Abraham himself, not because of the manner in which he prayed. His prayer was in harmony with the nature of God, and as therefore heard. How it must have delighted the Lord to hear Abraham reason in such a godly manner! Indeed, our Lord still finds great delight in those that can think like He does!

Abraham intercedes for Abimilech

After the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Abraham journeyed "toward the south country, and dwelled between Kadesh and Shur, and sojourned in Gerar." There he confronted Abimelech, king of Gerar. Fearing what might happen when Sarah was seen by the king, Abraham said she was his sister. At this, Abimilech took Sarah to himself. Because of divine restraint, however, the heathen king did not come near Sarah. He was then directed of God to restore Sarah to Abraham. The word of the Lord to Abimilech is intriguing. The king as informed that his life depended upon Abraham praying for him. "Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine" (Gen 20:7). It is interesting that preachers have long read this account and emphasized that Abraham lied about Sarah. Commenting on the same event, God said he was a prophet, whose pray would spare Abimilech's life. Here, the life of one person absolutely depended upon the prayer of another. In this instance we are exposed to the way in which the Lord works. Intercession--a divine strategy made known before the Law was given! PRAYER POINT: Father, if it is Your manner spare, and even bless, people because of the prayers of your children, help me to be an effective intercessor. Give me grace to plead for men, O Lord, my Strength and my Redeemer!

-- TOMORROW: JOB REMEMBERS HIS CHILDREN --