What kind of man was Abraham?
To be able to (nearly) argue with God, without getting in trouble? (“Lord, if there are 50 righteous men in Sodom, would You spare that City? How about 45? Maybe 40?” All the way down to, “Maybe 10?”)
What kind of man was Abraham?
To want to build an altar (of worship and of prayer) at every major stopping place in all his travels, all his life? That “hungry” to talk to His God!
What kind of man was Abraham?
To (essentially) get his “Sodom” prayers answered? The place was not spared, not at all. The fire fell! BUT Abraham’s loved ones (Lot his nephew and some of Lot’s family) were miraculously rescued (angelically escorted) out of that doomed location before the judgment hit! That’s a “yes” to the essence of Abraham’s Sodom intercession! He did not get specifically what he asked. But he did get what he wanted!
Again, what kind of man (or woman) has the “ear” of God like that?
The Bible gives us several “hints” as to Abraham’s character.
First of all, the man was “obedient.”
Read with me Genesis 12:1. “Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee.” This is a command.
Now Genesis 12:4, just three verses later. “So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him.” This is obedience to that command! That alone helps get one’s prayers answered, obedience!
Second, Abraham clearly loved God! Watch the way he acts when the Lord showed up at his house one day, an Old Testament appearance of the pre-incarnate Jesus Christ. Notice how Abraham gets excited when the heavenly Guests appear! “And the LORD appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day; 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, and said, My Lord, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant, Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree: and I will fetch a morsel of bread, and comfort ye your hearts; after that ye shall pass on: for therefore are ye come to your servant. And they said, So do, as thou hast said. And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes upon the hearth. And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetcht a calf tender and good, and gave it unto a young man; and he hasted to dress it. And he took butter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat.” Genesis 18:1-8, hospitality par excellence for the Lord! (Whereas when 2 of these same Men appeared at Lot’s house, none of this lavish welcome is observed, just the required minimum of kindness!)
YOU TELL ME WHAT GETS YOU MOST EXCITED, I WILL THEN TELL YOU WHAT YOU TRULY LOVE!
Third, Abraham was a “friend” of God’s! That’s a prayer-booster, for sure! Read Isaiah 41:8 here. “But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend.” Also read James 2:23 here. “And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.”
Fourth, God “trusted” Abraham, him being so faithful in character! He (Abraham) was a dependable follower of the Lord. Listen to God: “For I know him (Abraham), 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.” Genesis 18:19, wow! He will rear his family in a godly manner, living right all the while! Yes, one’s everyday character helps augment one’s power in prayer. “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” James 5:16, note what I’ve underlined.
Dear Readers today, concerning Prayer it’s not as much the “what” (we ask) or the “how” (we word those things) … but the “who” (is praying) that counts most of all!
That’s why in this series of Lessons on prayer we are focusing on great men and women who could get in touch with God! This is to be a “biographical” study of prayer, answered prayer.
More tomorrow, Lord willing.
Probably Moses.
He prayed too!
— Dr. Mike Bagwell