Genesis 18:29-33: a reflection

29He spoke to him yet again, and said, “What if there are forty found there?” He said, “I will not do it for the forty’s sake.” 30He said, “Oh don’t let the Lord be angry, and I will speak. What if there are thirty found there?” He said, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.” 31He said, “See now, I have taken it on myself to speak to the Lord. What if there are twenty found there?” He said, “I will not destroy it for the twenty’s sake.” 32He said, “Oh don’t let the Lord be angry, and I will speak just once more. What if ten are found there?” He said, “I will not destroy it for the ten’s sake.” 33The LORD went his way as soon as he had finished communing with Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place.

As God prepares to judge Sodom, Abraham stands before him and intercedes, boldly and persistently, for the city. Again and again he pleads: What if there are forty found there? What if thirty? Twenty? Ten? Each time he presses further, appealing to God's mercy, asking that the city be spared for the sake of the righteous within it. He is bold, even apologetic for his boldness, yet he does not stop; he keeps interceding, pleading for mercy on the city, again and again, until he has pressed his plea as far as he dares.

Notice Abraham's bold, persistent intercession for others. He did not plead once and stop; he interceded again and again, pressing further each time, boldly appealing to God's mercy for the sake of others. His intercession was persistent, not giving up after one request, but continuing to plead; and it was bold, daring to keep asking, appealing to God's justice and mercy. He stood before God and pleaded for the city, persistently, boldly, on behalf of others. His was an intercession that would not quickly give up, but kept pleading for mercy.

That bold, persistent intercession is worth taking to heart, for we are called to intercede for others, boldly and persistently. We can pray for others weakly, giving up quickly, not daring to press our pleas; but Abraham interceded boldly and persistently for the city, pleading again and again for mercy. Do not intercede for others weakly or give up quickly; plead for them boldly and persistently, as Abraham pleaded for Sodom, appealing to God's mercy again and again. Intercede for others with the boldness and persistence Abraham showed, pressing your pleas, not giving up after one request, appealing to God's mercy on their behalf, as Abraham stood before God and interceded persistently for the city; for bold, persistent intercession, pleading again and again for others, is what Abraham modeled before God, and to what we are called on behalf of those we would bring before him.

Lord, as you prepare to judge Sodom, Abraham stands before you and intercedes, boldly and persistently, for the city. Again and again he pleads: what if there are forty found there? What if thirty? Twenty? Ten? Each time he presses further, appealing to your mercy, asking that the city be spared for the sake of the righteous within it. He is bold, even apologetic for his boldness, yet he does not stop; he keeps interceding, again and again. Show me Abraham's bold, persistent intercession for others. He did not plead once and stop; he interceded again and again, pressing further each time, boldly appealing to your mercy for the sake of others. His intercession was persistent, not giving up after one request; and it was bold, daring to keep asking. He stood before you and pleaded for the city, on behalf of others. Take that bold, persistent intercession to my heart, for I am called to intercede for others, boldly and persistently. I can pray for others weakly, giving up quickly, not daring to press my pleas; but Abraham interceded boldly and persistently. Keep me from interceding for others weakly or giving up quickly; help me plead for them boldly and persistently, Lord, as Abraham pleaded for Sodom, appealing to your mercy again and again. Help me intercede for others with the boldness and persistence Abraham showed, pressing my pleas, appealing to your mercy on their behalf.