God has given us the vehicle of prayer to make petitions to him, and he can be moved to respond to our requests.

In Genesis chapter 18, we find Abraham entertaining the angels of the Lord. Following them telling him that Sarah would bear a son in her old age and that through that son Abraham would become a great nation, the representatives of God began to move toward Sodom and Gomorrah, places of exceeding wickedness.

“And the LORD said, ‘The outcry of Sodom and Gomorrah is indeed great, and their sin is exceedingly grave. I will go down now, and see if they have done entirely according to its outcry, which has come to me, and if not, I will know.’ Then the men turned away from there and went toward Sodom, while Abraham was still standing before the LORD.” (Genesis 18:20-22 – NASB)

This is where Abraham does a bold thing. Having heard the plans of God to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, he challenges God.

“Abraham came near and said, ‘Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city; will you indeed sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of fifty righteous who are in it? Far be it from you to do such a thing, to slay the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Shall not the judge of all the earth deal justly?'” (Genesis 18:24-25 – NASB)

Abraham begins a sort-of negotiation with God, although there really is no negotiation. As we will see, God is moved for the sake of his people.

“So the Lord said, ‘If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare the whole place on their account.'” (Genesis 18:26 – NASB)

But Abraham was far from done, and he stops to acknowledge his utter insignificance compared to God.

“And Abraham replied, ‘Now behold, I have ventured to speak to the Lord, although I am but dust and ashes. Suppose the fifty righteous are lacking five, will you destroy the whole city because of five?’ And he said, ‘I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.'” He spoke to him yet again and said, ‘Suppose forty are found there?’ And he said, ‘I will not do it on account of the forty.'” (Genesis 18:27-29 – NASB)

We can see that God is listening to Abraham’s petitions and reducing the requisite amount for the sake of his righteous ones.

Abraham pressed further.

Then he said, ‘Oh may the Lord not be angry, and I shall speak; suppose thirty are found there?’ And he said, ‘I will not do it if I find thirty there’ And he said, ‘Now behold, I have ventured to speak to the Lord; suppose twenty are found there?’ And he said, ‘I will not destroy it on account of the twenty.’ Then he said, ‘Oh may the Lord not be angry, and I shall speak only this once; suppose ten are found there?’ And he said, ‘I will not destroy it on account of the ten.'” (Genesis 18:30-32 – NASB)

God was initially going to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah notwithstanding any righteous people who were in the city. Abraham initially asked if he would spare it for fifty who were righteous, God agreed. Abraham then moved God all the way down to just ten righteous individuals.

What lessons can we learn from this?

God allows us to ask him

Abraham asked if he could petition, and God allowed him to ask. In the same way, he allows us to come before him in prayer and ask whatever we want.

“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” (John 15:7 – NASB)

Ask boldly and explain

Abraham was not afraid to ask God to change the entire plan that he had just told him. But when he asked, he gave God a reason for not destroying Sodom and Gomorrah. It was for his righteous ones.

Keep in mind, there weren’t even ten righteous people in Sodom and Gomorrah. God knew that, but he changed his decision upon Abraham’s petition.

Persist in prayer

Abraham asked for fifty. When God granted him that, he asked for forty-five. He did not stop at forty-five and asked for forty. God granted again. He did not stop at forty and asked for thirty. God granted again. He did not stop at thirty and asked for twenty. God granted again. He did not stop at twenty and asked for ten. And God granted again.

Recognize our position

Finally, and perhaps most significantly, he four times acknowledged his lowly position before God.

“I have ventured to speak to the Lord, although I am but dust and ashes.” (v. 27)

“Oh may the Lord not be angry, and I shall speak.” (v. 30)

“Now behold, I have ventured to speak to the Lord.” (v. 31)

“Oh may the Lord not be angry, and I shall speak only this once.” (v. 32)

When we make a petition to the Lord, we should remember and acknowledge who we are as the creation and who He is as the Creator.