Abraham - Act of Compassion (Daily Devotional)

Hi everyone. We've been looking at the life of Abraham to learn certain truths. Today, let’s talk about Abraham’s compassion. We will read from Genesis chapter 18, verse 32, ‘Then he said, “O Let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak but this once: Suppose ten should be found there?” He answered, “for the sake of ten, I will not destroy it.’ This is time in Genesis chapter 18, where Abraham is pleading with God to not destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. It is very interesting to note that God listened to Abraham. God let Abraham speak. Abraham was carrying compassion for this place because of his nephew Lot and he didn’t want God to destroy this place. In fact, the passage starts with God telling Abraham that he is going to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. This tells us that God wants to reveal His heart to those who walk with Him. Abraham was close to God; He didn’t withhold what He wanted to do to judge Sodom and Gomorrah and God revealed this to Abraham. Then we see Abraham negotiating with God and we know that it was nothing but intercession. Abraham went to God on behalf of the people of Sodom and Gomorrah and he began to ask God to have mercy. We see how he asked God, God if there are 50 people, would you spare this place and then he comes up with a number - 45, 40 and so on until he comes to this place where he says, if there are ten righteous people, Lord, would you withhold the judgment from Sodom and Gomorrah and we see God telling him, yes. Isn’t it amazing that we learn that our God is a God who listens to us and in the New Testament, we see how Jesus taught us so many truths about prayer that we can pray in the authority of the name of Jesus and receive from God. It is not that Abraham was able to change God’s mind but he was appealing to the very nature of God. We know that our God is a God of forgiveness, a God who is long suffering, a God who is compassionate and merciful and so Abraham was appealing to this merciful God to withhold judgement from Sodom and Gomorrah and God relented. Isn’t that incredible? And God was wiling to do what Abraham wanted him to do. So, this is a lesson about intercession. Let’s know that we can pray and whatever is in God’s word and according to His nature, our God is very willing to do it for us. Let’s pray together, Heavenly Father, thank you that you have called each one of us to journey in prayer. You have called us to pray for one another and intercede for the people we know, we love and also the nations. Help us to be like Abraham filled with compassion and boldness to come into your presence and to see things happen. We know that you are a prayer answering God and we pray that we will constantly find ourselves in that place of prayer and receive wonderful things from you, in Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

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