What do you think of bargaining with God?
People do it all the time, but when you think about it, it doesn’t make much sense. What can we possibly offer God that the Almighty doesn’t already have?
True, God wants a relationship with us, but is bartering really a relationship-building tool?
Abraham tried it out when God shared the Sodom and Gomorrah plans with him but he ended up leaving the bargaining table while the Lord was still making concessions (Genesis 18).
On the other hand, there is the example of Jacob, Isaac’s second born son, who made a deal with God early in his life.
After manipulating his brother Esau out of his birthright (Genesis 25:29-34), Jacob goes on to conspire with his mother, Rebekah, to steal outright Isaac’s paternal blessing (Genesis 27). When the aging, poorly sighted Isaac questions his identity, asking him how he could possibly have hunted down and prepared a meal for his father so quickly, Jacob bolsters his lie with false piety: “because your God cleared the way for me” (Genesis 27:20). So far, he doesn’t look too appealing as a servant for the Lord.
But Rebekah and Jacob overplay their hand. Esau becomes so incensed at their treachery that he threatens Jacob’s life and the younger brother is forced to flee to Rebekah’s homestead for sanctuary.
On that journey, Jacob dreams of a ladder to heaven loaded with angels going up and down. He hears the Lord’s voice repeating to him the promises of land and descendants long ago laid out to Abraham and Isaac.
And Jacob is impressed (Genesis 28:16-17).
But only enough to hedge his bets: “If God stands by me and protects me on this journey on which I’m setting out, keeps me in food and clothing, and brings me back in one piece to my father’s house, this God will be my God” (Genesis 28:20-21).
It turns out that God will accept even a bargaining chip if it leads to a divine toehold in our heart. The Lord cares that much about being our God.
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