BUT FOR THE RIGHTEOUS

Genesis 18 shares the story of the Lord and two angels visiting Abraham. The first part of the chapter shares the account of Abraham’s hospitality to these individuals. First, he bows as a sign of respect and offers them water to wash their feet, a place to rest, and food to satisfy their hunger.

After receiving the meal, the Lord asks Abraham for Sarah and reiterates the word he shared with Abraham in chapter nineteen concerning Sarah birthing a baby boy. Being in close proximity to this conversation, Sarah was shocked to hear this because of her age. Knowing what she thought, the Lord asked Abraham, “ Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the time appointed, I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.”

Finishing their meal, the men rose to continue their journey to Sodom. However, the Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do; Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.” So, the Lord told Abraham of His plans to go to Sodom and Gomorrah to witness and confirm their grievous sins and bring judgment on them.

After hearing this statement and knowing his nephew Lot and his family resided in Sodom, Abraham began to intercede on behave of these cities. He asked the Lord, “Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?” From there, he asked for mercy if fifty righteous were within the city. Abraham continued to ask this question going from fifty to forty-five, then to forty, to thirty, to twenty, and finally to ten. With each deduction, God said He would spare the cities if that amount of righteous people were found in them. Unfortunately, as the story goes, there were not even ten righteous persons in these cities; thus, as revealed in chapter nineteen, the cities and inhabitants were destroyed.

There is no denying America displays the signs of last days unbelievers, as quoted in 2 Timothy 3:2-5. Men are lovers of their selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, pleasure lovers, having a form of godliness, and denying the power of God. Due to these sinful actions, we have experienced calamities and repercussions in our country. However, I believe but for the prayers of the righteous, things could be much worse. I believe prayers have prevented the full brunt of God’s wrath on us. Intercession has protected our loved ones, neighbors, cities, states, schools, hospitals, and government (and this list could go on and on). Therefore, after reading this blog, I pray I’ve encouraged you to intercede for our nation and everyone in it continually because God may be merciful, gracious, and holding back his anger due to you, the righteous.