With deep reverence and humility he urged his plea: "I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes." There was no self-confidence, no boasting of his own righteousness. He did not claim favor on the ground of his obedience, or of the sacrifices he had made in doing God's will. Himself a sinner, he pleaded in the sinner's behalf. Such a spirit all who approach God should possess. Yet Abraham manifested the confidence of a child pleading with a loved father. He came close to the heavenly Messenger, and fervently urged his petition. Though Lot had become a dweller in Sodom, he did not partake in the iniquity of its inhabitants. Abraham thought that in that populous city there must be other worshipers of the true God. 140 And in view of this he pleaded, "That be far from Thee, to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: . . . that be far from Thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?" Abraham asked not once merely, but many times. Waxing bolder as his requests were granted, he continued until he gained the assurance that if even ten righteous persons could be found in it, the city would be spared.

Med dyb ærbødighed og ydmyghed fremførte Abraham sin bøn: "Jeg har dristet mig til at tale til min Herre, skønt jeg kun er støv og aske!" Der var ingen selvsikkerhed, intet praleri af hans egen retfærdighed. Han bad ikke om en gunst på grund af sin egen lydighed eller de ofre, han havde bragt for at gøre Guds vilje. Han var selv en synder og bad for andre syndere. En sådan ånd bør alle, der kommer frem for Gud, have. Men samtidig viste Abraham en tillid som et barn, når det beder en kærlig fader om noget. Han gik tæt hen til den himmelske udsending og fremførte sin brændende bøn. Skønt Lot var blevet indbygger i Sodoma, tog han ikke del i de øvrige indbyggeres uretfærdighed. Abraham tænkte, at der måtte være andre tilbedere af den sande Gud i denne store by. Og med dette i tanke bad han: "Det være langt fra dig at handle således: At ihjelslå retfærdige sammen med gudløse ..... Det være langt fra dig! Skulle den, der dømmer hele jorden, ikke selv øve ret?" Abraham bad ikke blot een gang, men mange gange. Idet hans bønner blev hørt, blev han mere frimodig og fortsatte, indtil han fik forsikring om, at hvis der blot var ti retfærdige i byen, ville de blive sparet.