Abraham prays for Lot

Genesis 18:1-19:38

Key 19:29

[Read Genesis 11:26-17:27 for a background]

This passage reminds us of Jesus, the good shepherd, who prays for all sinners, so they would somehow repent, believe in the good news, and be saved. 

1. Read Genesis 18:1-2. What is the significance of "the great trees of Mamre" in Abraham's pilgrimage into the Promised Land (Gen 12:1-4; 13:18)? What does Abraham's "tent" residence indicate about Abraham's life of pilgrimage thus far (Heb 11:9)? 

** It is significant in that unlike Lot who lived by sight, Abraham still lived by faith in the Lord, the faith that believes in God's promises (Gen 12:2-4). 

** Already 24 plus years had passed since he had first received the promise about the land, and yet still Abraham held onto this promise, indicating that he still kept his faith.

2. Read vs. 2-8 and describe the lunch fellowship "under a tree". What does this scene tell us about the "inner condition" of Abraham and his family? What does this passage suggest to us about the life that lives by faith in the Lord?

** It was full of loving grace. One word that stands out is "great" - great in generosity, love, and hospitality. 

** His inner condition was very rich and hospitable. It was full of love, ready and willing to serve. 

** It is not easy, but makes for a very rich inner life. It is filled with a deep sense of satisfaction. The Lord himself makes one's inner condition rich like this. The Lord provides for those who live by faith in Him with all the blessings that are necessary to meet "all" of our needs, particularly the needs of our soul. Phi 4:19. 

3. Read vs. 9-15. V. 11 say, "Abraham and Sarah were already old." How old were they (Gen 17:17)? Why do you think the Lord did not give them the promised son until that time (Heb 11:11; 1Pe 1:7)? 

** Abraham was 99 and Sarah 89.

** The Lord wanted to give him the best, that is, absolute faith in God from whom every good and perfect gift comes (James 1:17). This faith is as good as giving a man the entire Pacific Ocean, as opposed to giving him a couple of fish. 

4. Read vs. 16-21. Here the expression "the Lord said" is repeated twice followed by two revelations, one involving Abraham and his descendants and another involving Sodom and Gomorrah. How are the two "different"? What do you think is responsible for the   differences (2Co 5:7)? 

** The key is how the Lord felt about two classes of people: those who live righteously and those who live in sin. The Lord was very pleased with the former, but "grieved" by the latter.

** The former lived by faith in the Lord, whereas the latter by sight. 2Co 5:7; Heb 11:6. 

5. Read vs. 22-33. Abraham reduced the number of the righteous from 50 down to 10. Whom do you think Abraham might have had in mind as he pleaded for the "righteous" (19:29)? What can we learn here from Abraham (Lk 23:34; 1Jn 2:1-2)?

** Perhaps Lot and his family members. [Note: Jewish tradition says Lot used to have 4 daughters suggesting that Abraham might have assumed that they all got married or at least got engaged, so the number of Lot's household would add up to 10.]

** Lot did much harm to Abraham, but Abraham did not think about it, but rather in love, he prayed for him. His prayer shows Abraham did not hold any grudges against Lot. He truly loved Lot, in the true sense of the word "love". The reason for this love was that he came to know the Lord whose name is love - not the kind of love that is self-seeking, but the love that seeks the best interest of one's neighbor. We see the demonstration of this love in the Lord, who prayed even for the sinners who were driving nails through his body! It is with this love that we should pray for our sheep.

6. Read 19:1a and compare Lot sitting in the gateway of the "city" with Abraham sitting at the entrance to his "tent" (Gen 18:1). How did Lot end up living in the "city" (Gen 13:10-13; 14:12; 1Jn 2:16; 2Co 5:7)? 

** 1) 13:10 - Lot looked up and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan was well watered, like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, toward Zoar. (This was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) 

2) 13:11a So Lot chose for himself the whole plain of the 

3) 13:11b Jordan and set out toward the east. 

4) 13:11c The two men parted company:

5) 13:12-13 Abram lived in the land of Canaan, while Lot lived among the cities of the plain and pitched his tents near Sodom. Now the men of Sodom were wicked and were sinning greatly against the LORD.

6) 14:12 They also carried off Abram's nephew Lot and his possessions, since he was living in Sodom.

7) 19:1a The two angels arrived at Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gateway of the city. 

7. Skim through 3-38. What do the following events tell us about Lot? 

1) "'No', they answered.”We will spend the night in the square" (2b); 

2) Lot's offer to sacrifice his two daughters (8); 

3) "But his sons-in-law thought he was joking" (14); 

4) "he hesitated" (16); 

5) "No, my lords, please..." (18-22); 

6) "But Lot's wife looked back..." (26); and 

7) The birth of Moab and Ben-Ammi (30-38). 

How did Lot end up becoming like this? Yet, why did the Lord save Lot (29)? What can we learn here from Abraham who prayed for Lot (Heb 10:19-31; Jam 2:13; 1Pe 2:10)? 

** His inner condition was full of evil. Outwardly he looked righteous, but inside he was filled with the world (darkness). 

** He did not have God's promise in his mind, so naturally he looked at the good looking things of this world, and soon was overtaken by the love of this world. Lot was therefore a typical example of a worldly minded Christian who is like an apple which is good on the outside but is rotten to the core beneath the skin. 

** He had Jesus' mind. In his mercy, Jesus prayed for us even while we were sinners, and died on the cross for our sins!! This love and mercy is what we need in approaching and praying for the people of this world!

The end.