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Abraham, a Good Neighbor in Canaan
81
Two of the heavenly messengers departed, leaving Abraham
alone with the One whom he now knew to be the Son of God—and
the man of faith pleaded for the inhabitants of Sodom. Once he had
saved them by his sword; now he tried to save them by prayer. Lot
and his household were still living there, and Abraham attempted to
save them from the storm of divine judgment.
With deep humility he urged his plea: “I who am but dust and
ashes have taken upon myself to speak to the Lord.” He did not
claim favor because of his obedience or the sacrifices he had made
in doing God’s will. As a sinner, he pleaded in the sinner’s behalf.
Yet Abraham showed the confidence of a child pleading with a loved
father. Though Lot had chosen to live in Sodom, he did not join in
the sins of its inhabitants. Abraham thought that there must be other
worshipers of the true God in that large city, so he pleaded, “Far be
it from You ... to slay the righteous with the wicked. ... Shall not
the Judge of all the earth do right?” As his requests were granted,
he gained the assurance that if even ten righteous persons could be
found in Sodom, the city would be spared.
Abraham’s prayer for Sodom shows that we should cherish ha-
tred of sin but pity and love for the sinner. All around us people are
going down to ruin. Every hour some are passing beyond the reach
of mercy. Where are the voices of invitation, urging sinners to flee
from this fearful doom? Where are those who are pleading with God
for them?
Who Prays for “Sodom” Today?
The spirit of Abraham was the spirit of Christ, who is the great
Intercessor in the sinner’s behalf. Christ extended a love toward the
sinner that only infinite goodness could imagine. In the agonies of
the crucifixion, burdened with the awful weight of the sins of the
whole world, He prayed for His murderers, “Father, forgive them,
for they do not know what they do” (
Luke 23:34
).
The testimony of God is, “Abraham obeyed My voice and kept
My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws. ... I
have known him, in order that he may command his children and
his household after him, that they keep the way of the Lord, to do
righteousness and justice, that the Lord may bring to Abraham what