Grace revealed through the prayers of others....
Today's reading was about Abraham's intercession
or prayer for Sodom, the city's destruction and the rescue of Lot and his family.
I want to focus on the following portion:
23 Lot reached the village just as the sun was rising over the horizon. 24 Then the Lord rained down fire and burning sulfur from the sky on Sodom and Gomorrah. 25 He utterly destroyed them, along with the other cities and villages of the plain, wiping out all the people and every bit of vegetation. 26 But Lot’s wife looked back as she was following behind him, and she turned into a pillar of salt.
27 Abraham got up early that morning and hurried out to the place where he had stood in the Lord’s presence. 28 He looked out across the plain toward Sodom and Gomorrah and watched as columns of smoke rose from the cities like smoke from a furnace.
29 But God had listened to Abraham’s request and kept Lot safe, removing him from the disaster that engulfed the cities on the plain.
It was because of the prayer of Abraham, God's covenant partner, that Lot and his family were rescued from destruction. God showed His unmerited favor to Lot.
Yes, Lot had moved his tent to Sodom and the cities of the plain.
Lot even knew this area was unusually wicked and sinned greatly against the LORD.
[Genesis 13:12-13]
Yes, Lot even became a leader in the town
and would meet with the elders at the city gate.
[Genesis 19:1]
But...
Even with all of Lot's poor choices, Abraham did not stop praying for him. It was these prayers lifted up to God which caused God to send angels to rescue Lot before the destruction began.
I don't know exactly how long Lot had lived in this city which required God's judgment
but there is one thing I do know ~
Prayer changes things!
Even when we can not see it...
Even when we think people won't change...
Even when it seems like it is taking a long time...
God is working on our behalf...
Why do we know this?
Because the New Testament says ~
The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right,
and his ears are open to their prayers. But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil.”
[I Peter 3:12]
God is open to hear my prayers....
Your prayers....
Today is a good day to have a little talk with Jesus.
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