Genesis 18:16-33 Click here for Bible Verses
Hi GAMErs,
Today’s passage is Genesis 18:1-15. Let’s go!
Genesis 18:16-21 (NIV)
16 When the men got up to leave, they looked down toward Sodom, and Abraham walked along with them to see them on their way.
17 Then the LORD said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do?
18 Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him.
19 For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, so that the LORD will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him.”
20 Then the LORD said, “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous
21 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.”
On verses 16-21: Here God confides in Abraham regarding what He is planning to do to Sodom and Gomorrah. Likewise, when you make it your life’s passion to worship, obey and trust God, God will entrust you with the things that are on His heart.
Genesis 18:22-33 (NIV)
22 The men turned away and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before the LORD.
23 Then Abraham approached him and said: “Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked?
24 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?
25 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?”
26 The LORD said, “If I find fifty righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake.”
27 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,
28 what if the number of the righteous is five less than fifty? Will you destroy the whole city because of five people?” “If I find forty-five there,” he said, “I will not destroy it.”
29 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.”
30 Then he said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak. What if only thirty can be found there?” He answered, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.”
31 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.”
32 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.”
33 When the LORD had finished speaking with Abraham, he left, and Abraham returned home.
On verses 22-33: Here Abraham steps in as an intercessor for Sodom and Gomorrah. An intercessor is someone who stands in the gap and prays to God on others’ behalf. Just as Abraham stood in the gap and prayed for Sodom and Gomorrah, so you and I have an intercessor who speaks on our behalf: Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. Hebrews 7:25 says that Jesus “always lives to intercede” for us. Romans 8:26 says that “we do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.” Thank God that we have the greatest intercessors on our side praying for us. Likewise, we, as priests in God’s kingdom, can pray (intercede) for others and be confident that God hears our prayers.
Also, I believe it pleased God to see Abraham interceding on behalf of Sodom and Gomorrah. It’s a reminder to me that when we are given information about the challenges and problems others face, may we not be gossipers or just shrug our shoulders and say, “Oh well”, but may we be intercessors who pray to God on behalf of others and who do what we can to help.
Heavenly Father, thank You for placing on my side Your Son Jesus and the Holy Spirit to intercede on my behalf. Thank You that I too can be an intercessor for the people in my home, in my church, in my neighbourhood, in my nation and for nations abroad. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
