Can We Be Too Bold?

I was reading in my personal devotions this morning and got to Genesis 18. That’s the story, not of Sodom and Gomorrah but of Abraham talking and having lunch with God before God and His angels went to Sodom and Gomorrah. Remember that story? Remember how Abraham asked God to change His mind 6 times? You can read the story at http://bible.us/Gen18.20.MSG.

What struck me about this story were two things:

1. How bold Abraham was. He actually asked God the same question SIX times and adjusted the question slightly to try to push God further. Will you save them if there are 50? 45? 40? 30? 20? 10? Was God mad at Abraham for that? Nope, God was patient and answered Abraham every time.
   • Abraham wasn’t praying for himself – he was praying on behalf of the good people in a very difficult spot.
   • Abraham was essentially risking himself by being so bold in talking to God on behalf of others.
2. How patient God is. When we are praying on behalf of others, God is exceedingly patient. Way more patient than we deserve and way more patient than I as a parent would be if my kids came to me “whining” like that.

So, ask yourself, as we continue to pray for the children at GLA, as we continue to pray for Molly, Joyce, Dixie, Susan, Holli, Melissa, Patrick, Nikki……. (insert all of the names here) who are working on the front lines caring for the kids, as we continue to pray for the children outside of GLA who are struggling, as we continue to pray that the Haitian government would finalize new and more family and children friendly adoption guidelines, ask yourself:

Can we be too bold when we are praying? Can we ask for too much from God on behalf of others?

I don’t think that we can. Let’s try….

Tom

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