Praying Boldly

Today's Three-minute Bible Study
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Title: Praying Boldly ------------------- Date: 11/2/2002
Keyword: "prayer"
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Passages: Genesis 12:16-17, 22-33*

16. Then the men rose up from there, and looked down toward Sodom; and Abraham was walking with them to send them off.

17. And the Lord said, "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do? (editors note: destroy Sodom)
...
23. And Abraham came near and said, "Wilt Thou indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked?

24. "Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city; wilt Thou indeed sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous who are in it?

25. "Far be it from Thee to do such a thing, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike. Far be it from Thee! Shall not the Judge of all the earth deal justly?"

26. So the Lord said, "If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare the whole place on their account."

27. And Abraham answered and said, "Now behold, I have ventured to speak to the Lord, although I am but dust and ashes.

28. "Suppose the fifty righteous are lacking five, wilt Thou destroy the whole city because of five?" And He said, "I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there."

29. And he spoke to Him yet again and said, "Suppose forty are found there?" And He said, "I will not do it on account of the forty."

30. Then he said, "Oh may the Lord not be angry, and I shall speak; suppose thirty are found there?" And He said, "I will not do it if I find thirty there."

31. And he said, "Now behold, I have ventured to speak to the Lord; suppose twenty are found there?" And He said, "I will not destroy it on account of the twenty."

32. Then he said, "Oh may the Lord not be angry, and I shall speak only this once; suppose ten are found there?" And He said, "I will not destroy it on account of the ten."

33. And as soon as He had finished speaking to Abraham the Lord departed; and Abraham returned to his place.

Questions

1. Is there something about God’s question of Himself that teaches us about the way He views His relationship with Abraham (v. 17)? What is that "something"?

 

2. Are you surprised at the conversation Abraham had with God? What do you find interesting about their exchange?

 

Practical help

While we are not promised a verbal response from God in our times of prayer, Abraham’s interaction with God in Genesis 18 shows something of God’s heart toward His people that we would do well to keep in mind when we pray.

First, He takes us into His confidence and considers us partners. This idea is not only found in Genesis, but throughout the New Testament, too (cf. John 15, especially). God considers you a valuable part of His worldwide plan, and so He invites you to know Him and His ways. He will reveal Himself to you as you seek Him.

Second, God invites us to pray boldly about the things that are near and dear to our hearts. Abraham REALLY didn’t want to see Sodom destroyed. He appealed to God’s justice for Sodom’s salvation. He even kept lowering the number of potential righteous people for whom God might spare the city, going from 50 to 45 to 40 to 30 to 20 to 10!

This is the kind of passionate praying Internet porn strugglers need to employ when praying to God for success over temptation. A tired, "God help me to not give in, again" should be replaced with a passionate cry, "GOD HELP ME TO NOT GIVE IN, AGAIN!"

Don’t be afraid to express how badly you want to be delivered to God. He welcomes the expression of your passion and heart-felt cry. He will deliver.

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*"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, © Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission."