Genesis 18:23 Daily Devotional & Meaning – Abraham Drew Near, Interceded Boldly, and Appealed to God’s Justice
- Benjamin Michael Mcgreevy
- Apr 20
- 4 min read
Daily Verses Everyday! Day 77
“And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?”
In this moment, Scripture shows us something extraordinary, not about Abraham but about God’s heart. Abraham “drew near,” and this phrase is more profound than it first appears. Abraham does not approach God as a man approaching a king in fear or a servant approaching a master in trembling hesitation. He approaches God as a friend approaches a friend, as a son approaches a loving Father, and as a believer approaches the One whose character they trust completely. Abraham draws near because he knows God is approachable. He knows that even when God is preparing judgment, there is room to speak, reason, and intercede.
The question he asks “Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?” is not a challenge to God’s authority; it is an appeal to God’s character. Abraham knows who God is: holy, righteous, just, and full of mercy. He is not asking because he doubts God’s goodness. He is asking because he is aligning his own heart with God’s. This is what true intercession looks like: partnering with God’s compassion, not resisting His judgment.
Abraham’s question reveals something essential: he understands that God always distinguishes between the righteous and the wicked. He knows God does not punish blindly. He knows God does not operate on human impulsiveness or emotional reactions. Abraham is not trying to correct God; he is trying to understand how God’s justice will unfold in a city filled with corruption, yet containing at least a handful of people who have not bowed to wickedness.
But this verse also captures Abraham’s heart for people. He is not standing far away, satisfied that he and his family will be safe. He cares about Lot. He cares about Lot’s family. He cares about anyone in Sodom whose heart hasn’t been swallowed by the darkness around them. Abraham teaches us something here: intercession is born out of love, not religious obligation. You pray differently when you love the people you’re praying for. You pray differently when their safety, salvation, and souls matter to you.
Abraham’s compassion reflects the heart of God Himself. Before Abraham ever prayed for Sodom, God had already been patient with Sodom. Before Abraham ever asked God to spare the righteous, God had already been seeking the righteous. Abraham’s prayer is not convincing God to care. God already cared. Instead, Abraham is stepping into agreement with God’s compassion. This is what mature faith looks like: seeing people not simply through the lens of their sin, but through the lens of God’s desire to redeem.
Another powerful lesson in this verse is that Abraham “drew near.” He does not plead from a distance. He does not offer a cold or detached prayer. He steps closer into God’s presence. When faced with the reality of judgment, he does not run away; he leans in.
How many believers run when conviction comes, when God speaks of judgment, when the weight of holiness presses on the soul? But Abraham draws near. He knows that God’s holiness and God’s mercy are not opposites, as they are perfectly united in Him. He knows that the safest place in the universe is near to the heart of God, even in moments where God is dealing with sin.
That nearness is what gives Abraham the boldness to ask his question. When you know God, you trust His character enough to pray boldly. When you walk closely with Him, you learn that He welcomes heartfelt appeals. God is not offended by Abraham’s question. He is honored by it. Abraham’s nearness reveals his trust, and his question reveals His understanding of God’s justice.
This verse also foreshadows how God will act throughout Scripture. God never destroys the righteous with the wicked. He made a distinction in Egypt during the plagues. He spared Noah while cleansing the world. He spared Rahab while bringing judgment to Jericho. He saves His own before pouring out wrath. And ultimately, He places all judgment on Christ so that those who believe in Him will never face the wrath reserved for the wicked.
Abraham’s prayer in this verse points directly to the Gospel. The heart behind the question “Will the righteous perish with the wicked?” is answered fully on the Cross. Jesus, the Righteous One, was destroyed instead of the wicked, so that the wicked who trust in Him may be counted as righteous. God does not destroy the righteous with the wicked; He saves the wicked by giving them the righteousness of His Son.
Abraham’s intercession reveals the kind of relationship God desires with His people. He wants us to draw near. He wants us to speak. He wants us to carry His compassion for the lost and His burden for the righteous. He wants us to feel what He feels, love who He loves, and plead for those who have no one else praying for them.
In Abraham, we see the model of a believer who walks with God closely enough to pray boldly but humbly, compassionately but reverently. He teaches us that God invites us, not just allows us but invites us to draw near, ask questions, plead for mercy, and seek His heart for those in danger. Abraham drew near. And so should we.
If you would like to explore Genesis in a sustained, verse-by-verse way with space to reflect, journal, and trace how these foundational truths unfold through Scripture the Verse by Verse book expands these reflections into a unified reading experience. The book gathers these meditations into a structured journey through Genesis, designed to help readers linger in the text and engage God’s Word more deeply over time.
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