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15_Power of Intercession

Gen 18:16-19 When the men got up to leave, they looked out over Sodom. (Now Abraham was walking with them to see them on their way.) 17 Then the Lord said, “Should I hide from Abraham what I am about to do? 18 After all, Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all the nations on the earth may receive blessing through him. 19 I have chosen him so that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just. Then the Lord will give to Abraham what he promised him.”

The power of intercession pervades Scripture. It offers a window into the heart of God, and our need to partner with Him in His purposes. When we pray, it is not just to present our needs. It is to ask for mercy and grace for others who, like us, do not deserve it. Genesis 18:16-19 shows Abraham engaging in an extraordinary dialogue with God. It showcases the power of intercession and how it can transform the one who prays as well as those prayed for.

Prayer is listening to and speaking with God. The first time the word “pray” is recorded in scripture, in Genesis 20, is in the context of intercession. There, God tells Abimelech to return Sarah to Abraham, declaring that Abraham was a prophet and would pray for him. Thus, from the beginning, prayer is shown to transcend self-interest. It embraces the needs of others. The same characteristic is seen in Abraham’s plea for Sodom and Gomorrah. These wicked cities cried out for judgment. And Abraham did not seek to turn aside God’s justice. He sought mercy to those who feared God, by sparing the cities in which they dwelt.

Genesis 18 testifies to the character of God. Though the Lord says that He was on His way to confirm the grievous sin of Sodom and Gomorrah and to execute judgment, He acknowledges that he cannot help sharing His plans with Abraham. Truly, the secret of the Lord is with those who fear him. Amos 3:7 echoes this sentiment, stating, “Surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing His plan to His servants the prophets.” Do we know what it is to have the mind of Christ? Are our hearts so subject to his word that he is completely at home in our hearts? For then we abide with him and he with us.

Abraham’s response to the revelation of judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah is striking. One might expect that he would instantly agree because of the moral depravity of these cities. But instead he pleads for mercy. He is always aware that his kinsman Lot dwells in Sodom, having departed from him. He is not self-righteous or disdainful towards him. Instead, he is moved by love for Lot to hope that righteousness might yet be found in the city.

Humility and love mark the true intercessor rather than judgment and wrath. It is easy to criticize those who faltered in their choices, as Lot did. It is tempting to abandon them to their fate. But Abraham crosses over to Lot’s side and pleads with God to spare the wicked city for the sake of the few righteous in it. He longs to bridge the gap between divine judgment and human weakness.

Abraham persisted in his intercession until he was ashamed to ask any more. He repeatedly raised the bar for judgment. From asking God to spare the city for the sake of fifty righteous people, he progressed to just ten. Yet as he begs for judgment to be averted, he is humble and reverent. There is no bold familiarity with the Almighty even though he is his Friend.

God does not rebuke him for his boldness. He is demonstrating His willingness to show mercy. This interaction underlines the great longsuffering and mercy of God. He longs to spare the wicked so that they may turn back to him rather than perish. He greatly desires that we partner with Him in executing this longing, by our prayers for them.

In the New Testament, the Syrophoenician woman exemplifies persistent intercession as she refuses to stop her appeals for her daughter’s healing. No rebuff discourages or humiliates her. She appeals to the Lord’s known power, kindness and mercy, and ultimately receives her heart’s desire.

Similarly, the Lord told the parable of the persistent widow in Luke 18 to emphasize the need to pray without losing heart. Abraham’s intercession for Sodom prefigures these lessons. Persistence in prayer is not meant to wear down God’s resistance but to give him opportunities to demonstrate compassion and mercy.

The narrative of Sodom also underscores the principle in 2 Peter 2:9. God knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and trials, and to reserve the unrighteous for judgment. Though Lot lived amidst the corruption of Sodom, God brought him out before judgment fell, though at the cost of all else. This truth is a comfort and a challenge. It reassures us of God’s justice and mercy while calling us to avoid compromise with worldly desires that do not endure in judgment.

Abraham’s intercession challenges us to examine our own hearts and lives. Are we walking closely with God? Are our minds attuned to His thoughts? Are we ready to pray according to His will? Intercession requires a heart of compassion, a willingness to bear others’ burdens, and faith in God’s justice and mercy.

The need for intercessors is as urgent as ever. Like Abraham, we are called to bridge the gap between God’s holiness and human frailty. This does not mean condoning sin or ignoring its consequences. Rather, it means humbly appealing to God’s mercy, trusting in His justice, and praying for transformation.

Let us embrace the power of intercession with faith and love. Let us be persistent in prayer, compassionate in our pleas, and courageous on behalf of others. Through prayer from righteous hearts, let us participate in God’s work and experience the profound joy of partnering with Him in His purposes.