The Dynamics of Prayer

Introduction

Prayer is one of those subjects that perplexes me. I understand a basic definition like “communication with God,” but what I don’t understand is how that works or why it works. Why would the Creator invite one of his creatures to talk with him? Why would the Perfect Mind want imperfect minds to speak? How is the Great Discerner able to juggle the many prayers and divide request from desire when I am not even sure of a clear division? Don’t come to me with casual answers. I am convinced that there is nothing casual about prayer. Profound, yes. Gracious, absolutely. Providential, undoubtedly. Casual, no.

We utter words. God makes things happen. We ask. God responds. We cry out to him. God wraps his arms around us. Why? Because he loves us and wants to be intertwined with us. How is God able to juggle all the concerns and still do what is best for me and for every other person? Not only is our God beyond description, his thinking is far beyond ours and his ways are far beyond our own. I pray, but I realize that there is nothing casual about the prayers I offer nor do I take prayers for granted. It takes a great God to answer.

In Genesis 18:25, Abraham asks God one of those tough questions: “Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?” God intends to destroy Sodom. Abraham is concerned that righteous people will be killed. He is concerned that God will lump the entire city into one big sin pot and wipe all of them out at the same time—evil and righteous together. This seems to be a gross injustice and so he asks God if he will really be this harsh. Many scholars have taken this verse and spent volumes writing about the justice of God. Many come to the conclusion that we as human beings have no right to question God’s mind.

But that isn’t the answer God gives in this chapter. In fact, the answer that God gives is found in his actions not in his words. Tonight we are going to be challenged. We will find that prayer is not a casual thing, but that our God desires for us to be intertwined with him.

God’s Decision

The divine entourage has spent some time with Abraham and Sarah. They are ready to leave and travel on to Sodom. Abraham accompanies them on the road for a piece. During that brief travel, God has to make a decision. Does he tell Abraham what he is planning or will he leave Abraham in the dark? That is a significant question. The Creator considers allowing the creature to have an insight into his mind. The Creator doesn’t have to tell the creature anything. The Creator doesn’t owe the creature an explanation about life. God could go down to Sodom and do what he intends to do without Abraham knowing.

But instead the Creator decides to bring the creature in on his plans. In fact, the Creator’s intent is that the creature learn enough about the Creator’s mind that the creature can explain things to others later on. The Creator welcomes and invites the creature to know and understand his plans. The result is that God entrusts Abraham with the privilege of engaging in plans that affect the nations. Abraham up to this point has been concerned with God’s fulfillment of promise with a son. That promise will be verified in a year. Now God wants to help Abraham understand what it means to be a blessing to all the nations. Abraham is invited to know and to speak on behalf of Sodom.

This is what God’s decision to inform Abraham does. It opens the door for discussion. The Creator invites the creature to discuss a matter of divine initiative. God is going to do something with Sodom. God invites Abraham to discuss what is to be done. God’s intent is to destroy. God invites Abraham to know the intent so that he can explain it to future generations and to verify that God will keep his promises. It is amazing to think about God inviting us to join him in thinking about others and how to bless them. How precious is the gift of prayer.

God tells Abraham in verses 20-21 that he is aware of the problems in Sodom but that he is going on a personal information mission. This is the second time in this chapter that God has demonstrated an example of what Jesus’s life will be like. In the first part of chapter 18, God enters this world in the flesh to encounter Abraham and Sarah. Now in verses 20-21, God wants to experience himself the sin and degradation going on in Sodom. Our God gets personally involved in the affairs of man. It isn’t enough for God to know, he wants to experience it as well.

Abraham’s Blessing

God opens the door for Abraham to discuss Sodom’s situation. What is Abraham going to do? From the way the text reads it appears that Abraham and the entire divine entourage have traveled down the road together. At some point the men with God go on to Sodom while Abraham and God stop to talk. It would be interesting to think of a brief encounter in which Abraham said something like “can I talk to you alone for a moment.” What we have in the following verses is far from a formal declaration of prayer but that is exactly what is taking place. Abraham talks while God listens. God answers Abraham’s questions and requests. This is prayer in its most simple form. But this form is far from simple. The willingness of God to listen to Abraham’s bargaining demonstrates God’s patience and his willingness to listen.

Abraham begins to ask God how many people have to be righteous in the city for God to spare the city. He begins at 50, goes to 45, then 40, then 30, 20, and finally 10. With each number God offers to spare the city if that many righteous people can be found. It is at this point that most scholars want to debate Abraham’s negotiating technique and his reluctance to ask for less than ten.

Generally, the discussion centers on Abraham not being bold enough to go below 10 or wise enough to think below 10. Perhaps that is the case. But it seems that there is more here than Abraham’s lack of negotiating skills. If we understand this is a prayer and we understand that Abraham has been allowed to even discuss the future with God, then the overriding point is that God allows man to have an impact on his mind. Maybe Abraham shouldn’t have stopped at 10, but can you even fathom that the Creator’s mind can be changed by the creature? This makes prayer even more precious and less casual.

We make an impact in our world when we pray. God who sees all, knows all, and makes things happen hears our prayers and changes his mind because of our prayers. How can we be casual about such an awesome privilege? Some want to suppose that if Abraham had asked for 5 that God would have granted his request. Perhaps. But this is more about God’s willingness to have Abraham be a part of blessing the nations than Abraham’s negotiating ability. Our God is interested in hearing, answering, and acting on our requests.

There can be nothing casual about prayer. Our God invites us to be in his presence; to express our requests and desires. He promises that our prayers make a difference in this world. Pray with boldness. Pray with conviction. Pray knowing that God is waiting to act on our behalf.

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