Prayer's Precious Power

Far be it from You to do such a thing,

to slay the righteous with the wicked,

so that the righteous and the wicked

are treated alike.

Far be it from You!

Shall not the Judge of all the earth deal justly?

Genesis 18:25

God’s visit with Abraham was not all about good news. The outcry of Sodom and Gomorrah was great and their sin exceedingly grave (Genesis 18:20). The Lord was about to bring his judgment down on these cities.

The amazing thing in this story is that Abraham’s relationship with God was so close that God shared what He was about to do with him. God doesn’t do things in secret; He has nothing to hide. Isaiah 48:16 declares, “Come near to Me, listen to this: From the first I have not spoken in secret.” His judgments always come with a warning, an opportunity to repent, and to be saved.

When God shares the judgment that is coming to these cities, Abraham cries out for mercy for the righteous ones in the cities. Abraham intercedes on their behalf. It is still God’s people’s responsibility to intercede on behalf of others. We know the judgment that is to come, and we are to intercede and pray for the lost, the blinded, the deceived, the saved, and the persecuted.

Abraham’s heart goes to his nephew Lot and his family, who are living in Sodom. God, in His grace, allows Abraham to bring Him down to staying His judgment if there can at least be found ten righteous within the city. We know from the reading of this chapter that ten were not found and God’s judgment fell, but we also know that God honored the prayers of Abraham and his nephew Lot was spared.

Does God hear our prayers? Psalm 32:6 declares, “Therefore, let everyone who is godly pray to you in a time when you may be found.” Psalm 34:15 declares, “The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and His ears are open to their cry.” Yes, God hears our prayers; He hears the prayers of His children. The real question is: are you his child?

Oh, precious one, judgment is coming. God’s judgment will fall upon this world, just as it fell on Sodom and Gomorrah. If you are His child through faith in Christ, then remember these words:

But you, beloved, building yourselves up

on your most holy faith,

praying in the Holy Spirit,

keep yourselves in the love of God,

waiting anxiously for the mercy

of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.

And have mercy on some, who are doubting;

save others, snatching them out of the fire.

Jude 1:20–23

Abraham was building himself up on his most holy faith as he walked each day with God, growing in Him. He prayed in the Spirit and kept himself in the love of God. He waited anxiously for the mercy of his Lord. In his praying, Abraham had mercy on Lot and on his family, who doubted. Abraham interceded on their behalf, and by this intercession they were snatched out of the fire.

God honors the prayers of his people, and even when Lot hesitated and had to be literally dragged out of the city, God did not allow His judgment to fall until he was safely out of the city. Lot was living in this place by his own choosing, but even in this, God honored the prayers of Abraham and delivered Lot and gave his entire family the opportunity to be saved.

Oh, precious one, don’t ever stop praying for your loved ones. God hears the prayers of His righteous ones, those who have been credited righteous through their faith in His Son. Keep building yourself up on your most holy faith. Keep yourself in the love of God, and pray.

Oh Father,

The prayers of Your people are important to You, so important that one purpose of the cross was to give Your children direct access to Your throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16). You are so amazing! Your love and concern for Your people humbles me. I praise You, my God, and I give You thanks, for Your mercies endure forever. May I never forget how precious my prayers are to You and how important they are in the lives of others. May I never take lightly the privilege of prayer or the power of my intercession.

My Jesus, it is in Your name that I pray,

Amen.