And Abraham said, “Now that I have ventured to speak to the Lord, suppose twenty are found there?” He answered, “On account of the twenty, I will not destroy it.”
Communion with God is kept up by the word and by prayer. In the word God speaks to us; in prayer we speak to him. God had revealed to Abraham his purposes concerning Sodom; now from this Abraham takes occasion to speak to God on Sodom's behalf. Note, God's word then does us good when it furnishes us with matter for prayer and excites us to it.
Commenting on Genesis 18:23-33
And he said, behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord,.... See Gill on Gen 18:27, Peradventure there shall be twenty found there; wouldest thou destroy it, such a number being in it; or, wouldest thou spare it for their sakes? and he said, I will not destroy it for twenty's sake; if there were no more in it, I would spare it for their sake.
ABRAHAM'S INTERCESSION. (Gen 18:23-33) Abraham drew near, and said, &c.--The scene described is full of interest and instruction--showing in an unmistakable manner the efficacy of prayer and intercession. (See also Pro 15:8; Jam 5:16). Abraham reasoned justly as to the rectitude of the divine procedure (Rom 3:5-6), and many guilty cities and nations have been spared on account of God's people (Mat 5:13; Mat 24:22).
Commenting on Genesis 18:23-33