# 155 Stand and Come Near: The Stance of the Intercessor

The Book of Genesis Day 155 Ge 18:20 And the LORD said, "Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grave, 21 "I will go down now and see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry against it that has come to Me; and if not, I will know." 22 Then the men turned away from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the LORD. 23 And Abraham came near and said, "Would You also destroy the righteous with the wicked? As government leaders inspect disaster sites, so now God and two of His angels are ready to inspect the sin disaster site of Sodom and Gomorrah. These government leaders normal make the final decision as to whether or not a stricken area will receive aid or be razed. In Sodom and Gomorrah’s case, the decision will be whether God will spare the cities or wipe them off the face of the earth. Abraham, of course fears for the city! He has family there! He already knows what God is going to find there and that God will not be pleased. In fact he is already convinced that God is going to destroy the city, and so he intercedes on behalf of the city. Note the position of the intercessor and learn from it. Abraham did two things. He stood and came near. The angels were on their way, but Abraham stood before the Lord, and then he drew near to the Lord. The classic intercessor position is to take a stand between the Lord and the problem. Then the intercessor draws near to the only One who can fix it! Abraham takes the stand because he knows the character of God. He knows God is merciful, and that He does not take pleasure in the death of the wicked . (Ezek 18:23) He draws near, because he is a friend of God! You and I ought to be familiar with the mercy of God, and as His friends, we are able to draw near to Him through the blood of Jesus. Heb 10:19 assures us of this fact! “ Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus,” So congratulations! As a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, and one who is aware of the character of God, you have become an intercessor in the line of Abraham! In this position Abraham asks a legitimate question of God! “Would you also destroy the righteous with the wicked?” His inference is that such an action would not be just! This same question was brought before God by other intercessors in the Bible. Moses and Aaron asked God the same thing when Korah rebelled against them in the wilderness. God told Moses to get out of the way so He could consume the whole lot of the rebellious children of Israel, but Moses and Aaron got on their faces before the Lord and said, “Shall one man sin, and you be angry with the whole congregation?” They too took up the classic position of the intercessor, placing themselves humbly before God and between Him and the problem. The greatest intercessor of all is Jesus and Heb 7:25 says that He’s still at it, “Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” Jesus died on the cross for our sin problem. He stood between us and the wrath of God, and those who have placed their trust in Him will be spared the judgment to come. Is there somewhere that you might stand today ? Some problem that needs fixing. Some person who needs fixing? Will you tap into the mercy of God and draw near to Him pleading to mercifully intervene? Through faith in Jesus you are qualified, all that’s needed is the effort! Pray: Father, help us to have eyes to see the problems, and then let us draw near to You trusting in Your merciful solutions.