He shall pray for thee

Bible Reading: Genesis 19-21

Genesis 20:7 Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine.

God was not pleased with the fact that Abimelech took Sarah as a wife. Abraham and Sarah lied about their marriage and that is inexcusable, however, God would not allow Abimelech to sin by laying with Sarah. God instructed him to give her back to Abraham and he would pray for Abimelech.

How important is intercessory prayer? It is very important. The Bible says:

James 4:2b ...ye have not, because ye ask not.

God answers believing prayer. In Abimelech's case, his healing and that of his people would not happen until Abraham prayed for him. However, when Abraham prayed for him, he was healed.

Genesis 20:17-18 So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare children. 18 For the Lord had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah Abraham's wife.

The same thing happened with Job and his friends. God instructed Job's friends to offer sacrifices and to go to Job and he would pray for them.

Job 42:8 Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your folly, in that ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job.

In both of these instances, Abraham and Job were performing a priestly office by interceding for others. Both of them were interceding for others who had wronged them.

How important is intercession? It is of utmost importance. God accepts the intercessor and forgives the transgression of the sinner! That is why our Intercessor is so important for us.

Romans 8:34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

The intercession of Christ is the reason we are accepted by God. Our prayers are also cleansed by the interceding work of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.

Romans 8:26-27 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

Because of this, we can become intercessors for others.

1 John 5:16 If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.

We can pray for others because God is interceding on our behalf. We are kings and priests because of what Christ has done for us.

In Christ,
Rody