FELLOWSHIP GROUP NOTES  AUTUMN 2006   Oct 3/5

‘GOD’S PEOPLE AT PRAYER’

 

(2) GENESIS 18:  ABRAHAM AT PRAYER

‘THE PRAYER THAT MOVES GOD’

 

Genesis 18 records a famous prayer of Abraham (18.22-33) and the context out of which it was prayed.  It reveals that the heart of prayer is a two-way communing of the Lord and his people.  We can learn a lot from this chapter as we see the Lord sharing with Abraham and Abraham praying to the Lord.

 

I. THE CONTEXT OF ABRAHAM’S PRAYER:  18.1-21

Before the account of Abraham’s famous prayer (in 18.22-33) we have the record of the context of the prayer, the background out of which he pleaded with God. There is always a context out of which we pray.

 

ABRAHAM RECEIVES VISITORS 1-8

· Talk about the overall background that led up to Abraham’s earnest intercession

- the general background in his relationship to his nephew, Lot (Genesis 13)

- the specific background in the visit of the three travellers

 

· What impression do you get of Abraham from his dealings with his visitors?

 

THE LORD SHARES WITH ABRAHAM 9-21

Prayer, at its best, is a two-way sharing.

· Who do the visitors turn out to be?

- Is their visit accidental or deliberate?

 

· What two deeply significant things does the Lord share with Abraham?

- Why were these things so important?

- Which would Abraham feel the more important?

 

· Is this the first time the Lord has shared such things with Abraham?

- What is significantly different about the method the Lord uses on this particular occasion compared to the previous ones.  (Compare 12.1; 15.1,12; 17.1)

- Do you see any significance in the way he shares with him on this occasion?

 

· Why does the Lord share with Abraham?  (18.17-19)

 

· What is our relationship to the Lord?

- Can we expect him to similarly share with us?  (see Psalm 25.14, John 15,15)

- Does he?  How does he?

 

· What can we learn about the character of our God by the things he shares with Abraham?

 

2. THE CONTEXT OF ABRAHAM’S PRAYER:  18.22-33

Out of what has been shared with him about Sodom, Abraham is moved to earnest prayer.

· Why was Abraham moved to pray so earnestly for Sodom?  What were his deepest concerns?  (13.11,12; 19.1)

                                      

· What does Abraham set out to do in his prayer?

- On what grounds does he plead with the Lord?

- What part does God’s know character play?

 

· How would you describe the attitude of Abraham’s spirit in his praying?

- What signs do you find of reverence, humility, boldness, earnestness, persistence?  Are these essential to prayer?

 

· What do you make of the Lord’s response to Abraham’s praying?  What significance does this have for our praying?

 

· Why do you think Abraham stopped at 10??

 

 

 

FINAL THOUGHT:

What can we learn from Abraham at prayer to help us in our praying?