Keep Asking
As I read through the life of Abraham in the book of Genesis, I am amazed at the fellowship he had with God. He is called the friend of God, we watch the Lord tell him things close to His heart and time and again God blesses Abraham simply because Abraham believed.
Genesis 18 is one of those special chapters on faith and fellowship. God decides to share with Abraham the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah. There has been so much sin in these places that the Lord has had enough. There will be destruction and death as a result of that sin, and Abraham learns the full extent of God's plan.
His response is part of what amazes me.
And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the LORD. Genesis 18:22
When the days get dark, do you turn to your husband, your girlfriends or your mother - or do you choose to stand before the Lord? Who among these can actually answer your questions and give you perfect peace?
Then Abraham goes one step further.
And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked? Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein? That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? Genesis 18:23-25
He could have stood on the sidelines and watched without saying a word. But he didn't. Abraham drew close to the Lord and posed his questions. What better place to be when something's not right than near God?
So Abraham asked God to spare the city for 50 righteous people, and God agreed. Then Abraham asked God to spare the city for 45 righteous people, and God agreed. They went on this way to 10.
And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten's sake. And the LORD went his way, as soon as he had left communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place. Genesis 18:32-33
Please notice here that Abraham stopped asking before God quit promising. Have we ever tried to put limits on what God can do in our lives simply because we stopped asking?
I would never assume to second-guess God or ever believe that He hasn't worked His absolute perfect will in my life. But I also wonder if there have been times when I didn't stand before God and I didn't draw near to Him when I should have. Could things have gone differently or even better if hadn't stopped asking when I did?
I pray today that we'll keep asking, keep standing and keep drawing near in all the circumstances of life. We may not be able to spare the city, as Abraham witnessed, but we will be in a deeper fellowship with God because of it.
Genesis 18 is one of those special chapters on faith and fellowship. God decides to share with Abraham the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah. There has been so much sin in these places that the Lord has had enough. There will be destruction and death as a result of that sin, and Abraham learns the full extent of God's plan.
His response is part of what amazes me.
And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the LORD. Genesis 18:22
When the days get dark, do you turn to your husband, your girlfriends or your mother - or do you choose to stand before the Lord? Who among these can actually answer your questions and give you perfect peace?
Then Abraham goes one step further.
And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked? Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein? That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? Genesis 18:23-25
He could have stood on the sidelines and watched without saying a word. But he didn't. Abraham drew close to the Lord and posed his questions. What better place to be when something's not right than near God?
So Abraham asked God to spare the city for 50 righteous people, and God agreed. Then Abraham asked God to spare the city for 45 righteous people, and God agreed. They went on this way to 10.
And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten's sake. And the LORD went his way, as soon as he had left communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place. Genesis 18:32-33
Please notice here that Abraham stopped asking before God quit promising. Have we ever tried to put limits on what God can do in our lives simply because we stopped asking?
I would never assume to second-guess God or ever believe that He hasn't worked His absolute perfect will in my life. But I also wonder if there have been times when I didn't stand before God and I didn't draw near to Him when I should have. Could things have gone differently or even better if hadn't stopped asking when I did?
I pray today that we'll keep asking, keep standing and keep drawing near in all the circumstances of life. We may not be able to spare the city, as Abraham witnessed, but we will be in a deeper fellowship with God because of it.
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