ABRAHAM STOOD YET
Genesis 18:22 And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the LORD.
The three “men” who came to Abraham’s tent door turned out to be the two angels of both the deliverance of Lot, and the destruction of Sodom along with the other four cities of the plains. But the other one with them was the LORD Himself. Consider these verses:
Genesis 18:1 ¶ And the LORD appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day; 2 And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground, (God came to Adam “in the cool of the day” before sin’s curse had been enacted.)
Genesis 18:16 ¶ And the men rose up from thence, and looked toward Sodom: and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way. 17 And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do;
And these “two men” next appear coming into the gates of Sodom as angels. Genesis 19:1 ¶ And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground;
And after the Lord informs Abraham that Sarah shall have a son in her old age, and that the sin of Sodom is “very grievous,” the two angels are sent on towards Sodom, leavening Abraham standing before the Lord. Verse sixteen states that he had gone “with them to bring them on their way.” So he is out of earshot of his tent, and now alone with God.
And is this not our Lord’s instructions concerning our own communication with the Father? Matthew 6:5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
Our Lord even separated himself from his disciples by a little distance in his hour of prayer. Matthew 26:36 Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. Luke 22:39 And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him. 40 And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation. 41 And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,
We also read in the eighth chapter of the Revelation that all heaven is silenced, even the seven angels with their trumpets, while the Mediating Angel, representing the Lord Jesus Christ, offered our prayers up to the throne. The seven angels cannot instigate the designated providences until the church has offered her prayers to the Lord, and He brings his cross work to bear upon them!
Revelation 8:1 And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour. 2 And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets. 3 And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. 4 And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand. 5 And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake. 6 And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.
We have both the Holy Spirit and our Lord to make intercession for us regarding our prayers. Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. 34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
And it seems that no sooner are the two angels removed from the presence of the Lord and Abraham, that the flood gates of his soul are thrown open and his urgent prayer bursts forth. Matthew 12:34 … for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. Listen at what he immediately prays. Genesis 18:23 And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked? 24 Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein? 25 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?
He “draws near” and his heart is so full that his mouth breaks forth with this urgent request! He wants assurance that his Friend, (James 2:23 …Abraham believed God,… and he was called the Friend of God.), would make a difference in his wrath between the wicked and the righteous. Noah had only died the year that Abraham was born. So the account of God destroying all flesh in the universal flood was well known. Abraham was jealous for the glory of God, wanting him to be just in his dealings, so as not to bring reproach upon His name.
This was also the spirit of David after his sin with Bathsheba. He confessed himself to be sinful in order that whatever judgment came upon him, God would be seen as just for doing so. Psalm 51:3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. 4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
Therefore Abraham, being God’s earthly representative, in whom all the families of the earth would be blessed, was urging God to “do right.” And so He did! Consider the writings of the Apostle Peter on this matter. 2 Peter 2:6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; 7 ¶ And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: 9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
All born again believers are to do all for the glory of God! 1 Corinthians 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Peter 4:11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
Let us now complete this matter of Abraham’s deliberation with the LORD God by reading these verses in the following chapter. Genesis 19:27 And Abraham gat up early in the morning to the place where he stood before the LORD: 28 And he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and beheld, and, lo, the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace. 29 And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in the which Lot dwelt.
Here we find “the place” of Abraham’s prayer was the place of his faith! For here we find him early the next morning standing in the very spot where he had petitioned God, awaiting expectantly to see the fulfilling of God’s word. For there is never a true faith without the accompanying grace of hope! Romans 4:20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; 21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
The Lord Jesus, as the God-man, fully expected the Father to fulfill the purposes of his cross work! For after he had accomplished his work, he was “henceforth expecting.” Hebrews 10:12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; 13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.
And neither Abraham nor Christ were disappointed in their expectation of faith! Both stood as mediators for others before the Lord God! Notice the three words in bold type in verse 29 of our Genesis 19 passage. “God Remembered Abraham!” For as Lot was delivered by God remembering Abraham, all those who shall stand in eternal glory shall do so only by the mediation of the Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
Romans 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
And we hear our Lord in his absolute affirmation state, “All that the Father giveth me, shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” (John 6:37) John 17:12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.
What a wonderful thing to have said concerning anyone; that God remembered them! That was the one thing which the thief on the cross requested of the Lamb of God! When he heard the cruel Romans smashing leg bones so that those crucified could not push up to get a breath, amidst the agonizing screams and the presence of blood flowing from the flesh torn by nails driven into their bodies, what was his urgent and final request? “Lord remember me!”
And what was the response he received? Luke 23:42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
God remembered Noah and stopped the rain, and dried up the waters upon the earth. God also remembered the covenant he made with Abraham and delivered his people from Egyptian bondage. He remembered Samson “just this once” allowing him the greatest victory in his death. God remembered Rachel and gave her a most glorious son named Joseph. For remembered Hannah and gave her the a son who turned out to be the great Prophet Samuel.
Genesis 8:1 And God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the cattle that was with him in the ark: and God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters asswaged; 2 The fountains also of the deep and the windows of heaven were stopped, and the rain from heaven was restrained;
Genesis 30:22 And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her womb. 23 And she conceived, and bare a son; and said, God hath taken away my reproach: 24 And she called his name Joseph;
Exodus 2:24 And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. 6:5 And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage; and I have remembered my covenant.
Judges 16:28 And Samson called unto the LORD, and said, O Lord GOD, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes. 30 And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were therein. So the dead which he slew at his death were more than they which he slew in his life.
1 Samuel 1:11 And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head. 20 Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the LORD.
But will God remember you? Only you can find the answer to that question. Isaiah 55:6 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: 7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
If every believer in the world were praying for you to come to know the Lord, you would still be short just one prayer! Yours! You must pray, “God remember me!” Hebrews 3:13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 4:7 Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Pastor Gene Breed
November 28, 2019