GREAT PRAYERS OF THE BIBLE

Abraham’s Prayer for Sodom

“Then the Lord said, ‘The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous that I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me. If not, I will know.” Genesis 18:20-21 NIV

“The men turned away and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before the Lord. Then Abraham approached him and said: ‘Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked? What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people in it?” Genesis 18:22-24 NIV

“Far be it from you to do such a thing – to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?’ The Lord said, ‘If I find fifty righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake.” Genesis 18:25-26 NIV

“Then Abraham spoke up again: ‘Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, though I am nothing but dust and ashes, what if the number of the righteous is five less than fifty? Will you still destroy the whole city because of five people?’ ‘If I find forty five there,’ he said, ‘I will not destroy it.” Genesis 18:27-28 NIV

“Once again he spoke to him. ‘What if only forty are found there “Once again he spoke to him. ‘What if only forty are found there?’ He said, ‘For the sake of forty, I will not do it.’ Then he said, ‘May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak. What if only thirty can be found?’ He answered, ‘I will not do it if I find thirty there.’ Abraham said, ‘Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, what if only twenty can be found there? ‘He said, ‘For the sake of twenty, I will not destroy it.” Genesis 18:29-31 NIV

“Then he said, ‘May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak just once more. What if only ten can be found there?’ He answered, ‘For the sake of ten, I will not destroy it.’ When the Lord had finished speaking with Abraham, he left, and Abraham returned home.” Genesis 18:32-33 NIV

Abraham’s approach to God He approached God with great boldness He actually challenges God with a series of questions – Genesis 18:23-25 God was not offended or angered by Abraham’s boldness

Abraham’s approach to God His boldness was tempered with humility He acknowledges his own unworthiness before the Lord – Genesis 18:27b God is actually pleased to indulge our bold heart-felt prayers when we approach Him with humility and reverence – Hebrews 4:14-16; 10:19-22; Matthew 6:9

Abraham’s appeal to God’s character He appealed to God’s righteousness Abraham knew that God would never do anything unjust He knew that his nephew Lot was a righteous man – 2 Peter 2:6-8

Abraham’s appeal to God’s character He also appealed to God’s mercy Abraham knew that God was merciful – 2 Peter 3:9 He reasoned with God on the basis of His mercy

Abraham’s persistence in prayer He didn’t give up after the first try! He kept pleading with God from 50 righteous down to 10! God is not wearied by our persistence – Luke 11:5-13; 18:1-8

Abraham’s persistence in prayer He kept praying until he felt assured of God’s answer Abraham’s greatest concern was for Lot and his family He finally felt confident in God’s righteous judgment