Invitation for Compassion (Abraham)

Genesis 18:16-33

By now, Abraham knows his three guests are divine and sees them off towards their next stop, the city of Sodom.

Abraham overhears their discussion and begins to intercede on behalf of the city.

These requests that Abraham makes are not light-hearted.

Six times he pleads with the traveler who represents the Lord, please do not destroy this city.

Each time the Lord lowers his requirement of righteous inhabitants: from 50 to 45, 40, 30, 20 and finally to 10.

The scene is left with an ominous tone – will they find 10 righteous people or will the city be destroyed?

Why would Abraham waste his time trying to save an evil city?

If it was just out of concern for his nephew Lot, he could have just asked for the Lord to spare him.

But he never even mentions his nephew.

Abraham is showing compassion in its truest form: undeserved and unselfish.

God is acting to protect his people by getting rid of the immorality in the region.

He leaves the opportunity open to Abraham by letting him listen in.

God gives Abraham an opportunity, by his own free-will, to show compassion and ask for mercy for the city.

God is not twisting Abrahams arm in a determinative way

This is Abraham choosing to intercede

The Lord is the One, then, who invites the opportunity for forgiveness for Sodom; Abraham was the one who asked for it.

Do you see how incredibly powerful that makes our prayers?

The Lord invited Abraham to change his mind, to alter His course and save an entire city.

Abraham was just a man like you and me.

We have been given the same power and influence over the events of this world, if we would only ask.

God is waiting for us to ask and pray for hard things; opportunities to truly change lives, families, and our world.

Takeaway: God is inviting us to change this world

Prayer: Thank you God that you have given us so much power in prayer. Give me the courage to make big requests, and eyes to see big change.