Abraham Intercedes

There is an old story of three blind men trying to find out what an elephant was like.  One felt the tail and said and elephant is like a rope.  The second felt one of his legs and said the elephant is like a tree.  The third felt his trunk and said the elephant was like a hose.  All three had an idea about one part of the elephant, yet none had any real understanding. 

Today, politicians, media experts, and activists often complain that the common people don’t understand the big picture.  Unfortunately, they tend to be much like the blind man who felt the leg, thinking he knows more about elephants because the leg was bigger than the tail or the trunk.   In reality the one who felt the tail had just as much reason for his opinion at the one who felt the leg.  Neither one can see the whole picture.  The elephant is so big that even a person who can see may need to move away in order to see the whole animal. 

Humans are much too close to life in this world to clearly see the entire picture, no matter how intelligent they may be.  Fortunately, God is able to get far enough away to see the entire picture, but like an elephant keeper, he can get close enough to address the problems.    Sometimes he allows us to know what needs to be done so we can prevent the problem in the future.  In Genesis 18:16-21, God informed Abraham of a problem and what he was going to do about it.  “And the men rose up from thence, and looked toward Sodom: and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way.  And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do; Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?  For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.

And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous; I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know.”

Abraham was not directly involved in Sodom or Gomorrah, and would not be greatly affected by what happened.  However, he would try to teach his children what was right and knowing what was going on would provide a valuable lesson for his descendants.  Although God sees everything and already knew what was going on, he would not judge until he had double checked because he wanted to be completely fair. 

Although he was not directly involved with Sodom and Gomorrah, Abraham’s was concerned about the people there, and especially his nephew, Lot.  He expresses those concerns in Genesis 18:22-33, intervening on their behalf. “And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the LORD.  And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?  Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein?  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 there.

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.  And the LORD went his way, as soon as he had left communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place.”

God is not unjust.  He loves people and agreed to save entire region if there were just ten people who were doing what was right in the five cities and the surrounding area.  Even Zoar, the smallest of the cities, and the only one to survive appears to have had a couple of thousand inhabitants at the time.  Knowing that Lot had several daughters who might have families, Abraham felt sure there would be at least ten who served God and did not press anymore.   Abraham had been doing exactly what I Timothy 2:1-4 commands Christians to do.  “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.  For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.”