p. 14 | The Sunday School

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Aug 14, 1901

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 27, No. 33.

The Sunday School

INTERNATIONAL SERIES

LESSON 7.—AUGUST 18.—ABRAHAM’S INTERCESSION.

Lesson Scripture, Gen. 18:23–32, R.V.

Golden Text.—“The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” James 5:16.

23 “And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt Thou consume 24 the righteous with the wicked? Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt Thou consume and not spare 25 the place for the fifty righteous that are therein? That be far from Thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked, that so the righteous should be as the wicked; that be far from Thee: shall not the Judge of all the earth do 26 right? And the Lord said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sake. 27 And Abraham answered and said, Behold, now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and 28 ashes: peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt Thou destroy all the city for lack of five? And He said, I 29 will not destroy it, if I find there forty and five. And he spake unto Him yet again, and said, Peradventure there shall be forty found there. And He said, I will not do it for the forty’s sake. And he said, O let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: peradventure there shall thirty be found there. And 31 He said, I will not do it if I find thirty there. And he said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord: peradventure there shall be twenty found there. And He said, 32 I will not destroy it for the twenty’s sake. And he said, O let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: peradventure ten shall be found there. And He said, I will not destroy it for the ten’s sake.”

SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.

(1) When the Lord revealed His purpose, to destroy Sodom, what did Abraham do? Verse 23. Note 1. (2) What modification of the decree did he humbly suggest? Verse 24. (3) To what principle of righteousness did Abraham appeal? What did he feel sure the righteous Judge would do? Verse 25. (4) What merciful promise did the Lord make? Verse 26. Note 2. (5) What characteristic of Abraham was now still more manifest? Verse 27. Note 3. (6) What further concession did he ask? What was his success? Verse 28. (7) Encouraged by the mercy thus shown, what further plea did he make? And what answer did he receive? Verse 29. (8) What appeal did he make before asking further leniency? What then was his petition? And what the answer? Verse 30. (9) What shows that the patriarch’s faith became stronger by its persistent exercise? And how was it honored? Verse 31. (10) What limit did Abraham himself place upon his petition? Did the Lord deny even this seemingly extreme request? Verse 32. Note 4.

NOTES.

1. Abraham had just entertained three strangers, and as they were en route to Sodom, he went with them some distance. The men proved to be angels, one of them the Lord Himself. As the other two went on to Sodom, the Lord revealed to Abraham the purpose of their visit. The patriarch was immediately concerned for Lot, and his family, and for any others who might be deemed righteous. It would seem that he naturally supposed that Lot had done some missionary work over there.

2. In all the calamities that God brings upon men, He spares the righteous. To “slay the righteous with the wicked” is the work of the adversary. His purpose is to slay the righteous, and he is regardless even of his own, if he can accomplish that end.

3. Abraham’s prayer was the prayer of faith, which “availeth much.” He had drawn near to the Lord to plead with Him. He plead the righteous character of the Lord as an assurance that He would do right. Therefore he gains his point. Instead, however, of becoming elated and presumptive, he becomes more humble, and assumes that he is but “dust and ashes.” Yet his faith grows stronger as he realizes that mercy is still mingled with justice, and recognizes an evident invitation to ask for more.

4. Ten.—In this petition that the great and desperately wicked city would be spared for ten’s sake, and in the gracious promise that it would be so, we can realize something of the force of the Saviour’s words, “Ye are the salt of the earth.” This wonderful concession also illustrates the power of prayer. Without so much as a condition of penitence on the part of the wicked, this terrible calamity would have been averted in answer to prayer if only ten righteous persons could have been found.