In this week's Torah Portion, "Vayyera", which means, "The LORD Appeared," Abraham is visited by three men; two angels and Adonai. It appears that each of the three men had their assignment: One to announce the tidings of the birth of Isaac; the second to destroy Sodom; and the third to rescue Lot. The one who announces the tidings of Isaac stays behind after the other two angels depart for Sodom and speaks with Abraham-and Abraham addresses Him as LORD. "And the LORD said: 'Shall I hide from Abraham that which I am doing: seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? For I have known him, to the end that he may command his children and his household after, that they may keep the way of the LORD, to do righteousness and justice; to the end that they the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which He hath spoken of him."

In the above passages we can glean several things that will equip us to pray more effectively for our husbands, families, and mankind in general.

First of all, it is important to understand that God is making a statement that should be the goal of every God fearing man to hear with his own ear, "for I have known him that he will order his children and his household after him, that they may keep the way of the LORD, to do righteousness and justice." It is the will of God for men to rear their children and orchestrate the daily affairs of their household in the fear of God. The fear of God is the beginning of knowledge the book of Proverbs teaches us. It is the foundation of or the basis upon all other principles are established or judged-righteousness and justice.

A man who will raise his family according to the dictates of "righteousness" and "justice" will invoke the favor of God not only in his life, but the lives of his entire household. In addition, he will be a man God will bless and protect at all costs. The scriptures teach us that if we train up a child in the way he should go, when he is old he shall not depart from it. A man who properly trains his children, will see the fruit of righteousness and justice exemplified in the lives of his children-he will literally save his family from Hell-producing generations of righteous men and women.

In this passage Abraham is not saying that He knows God, but God is saying that He knows Abraham. The scriptures teach us in 1 Corinthians 13, "that we shall know, even as we are known." God will impart unto us that which he knows we are able to handle. For example, if we are merciful, God will treat us mercifully; if we are forward, God will be forward to us; if we exhibit selflessness God will show himself selfless to us. In other words, God will reveal himself to in accordance to our obedience and how we reveal ourselves to him.

Therefore it behooves us to pray that our conduct and obedience mirrors his nature and image. We find Deuteronomy chapter eleven and Galatians chapter five to be excellent references for this type of prayer, not to mention the entire book of Proverbs and Psalm 119.
Let us endeavor to follow in the footsteps of our father Abraham.