Negotiating With God

I negotiated with God. Just let me have one more conversation.

Those were the words I heard her say. I don’t know the outcome of her situation. But I wonder. Were her negotiations “successful?” And if not, what was her response?

There is only one person in the Scriptures who successfully “negotiated” with God. Abraham seemingly bargained with Him over the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 18:16-33. Lord what if there are 50 righteous people? I will not destroy. What if there are 40? I will not destroy. What if there are 30…. 20….10 righteous people? For the sake of 10 righteous people, I will not destroy said the Lord.

At first read it seems that Abraham and God come to an agreement. If God can find 10 righteous people, Sodom and Gomorrah will be spared.

As I pondered the woman’s statement about negotiating with God, I wondered about this encounter. Was this really a “negotiation?” God did not have to share His plans for Sodom and Gomorrah with Abraham. Yet He did. Why? Was God’s purpose to encourage Abraham to intercede for Sodom? Did God want to engage in this conversation? Did God desire that Abraham come to know something more about His heart through this conversation?

To negotiate means to deal or bargain with someone in preparation for a contract. In negotiations, each party brings something of value to the “table” – something the other desires and they work out a deal between them. It is very much an “if – then” type arrangement. If you do this, then I’ll do that. This begs the question; What did Abraham bring to the table? What was his “if … then…?” If we find ourselves “negotiating” with God, we need to ask “what am I bringing to this deal?” What is my “if … then…?” If we are honest with ourselves, we have to answer that with “nothing.” I bring nothing to this. Except my faith. And when we bring our faith – however questioning it might be – to the conversation, we are engaging in prayer.

I think God shared His plans with Abraham because He wanted Abraham to bring his faith to the conversation. I believe He wants us to bring our faith, our questions, our doubts, our concerns to the conversation. God wants us, like Abraham, to step out there and ask. It is the only way we will discover more about God’s heart. But we have to be willing to know that our prayer is not about coming to an agreement with God about something.

Why did Abraham stop at 10? Why not go all the way down to 1? Surely if Abraham was negotiating for the fate of Sodom he would have done everything he could have to save the city. After all, his nephew Lot and his family lived there. Were his questions really about saving Sodom or were they about discovering the heart of his God?

Abraham has chosen to follow and obey and place his faith in God. In YWYH. He knows that God is a God of justice and that He must and will punish sin. Abraham’s questions probe deeper into the heart of God. With each response from the Lord regarding His promise not to destroy, Abraham learns that his God is a God of mercy. God knows there are not 10 righteous people. But He shares His heart that there be a reason to save the city. Abraham stopped at 10, not because they had reached an agreement, but because he had his answer. God is merciful and good.

What is it that we are really seeking when we intercede in prayer? Are we seeking only the outcome we are asking for? It isn’t wrong to seek a specific outcome. Abraham wanted Sodom and Gomorrah to be spared. It isn’t wrong to ask for one more conversation. It isn’t wrong to ask to be healed of a disease. We are encouraged through Scripture to ask boldly and with confidence for what we desire. We need to learn from Abraham that there is more to praying than just the outcome. In our hearts, I believe we are really asking, “God, are you good?” Are we praying with hearts open to learn more about God through our request?

The very idea of negotiating means that both parties agree to a contract. It is not open-ended. A good negotiator would have secured the fate of the city, which Abraham did not do. When they concluded, there was the very real possibility that Sodom and Gomorrah would still be destroyed.

The next day, when Abraham gets up and sees fire and smoke, what do you suppose His reaction was? Do you think he was angry that God destroyed the city? Do you think he doubted that God even looked for 10? Do you think that he felt like God had breached their contract?

We have no idea what Abraham’s actual response was. But we have clues. Abraham went on to have a son, Isaac, through whom the Lord promised to fulfill His covenant. Abraham went on to obey the Lord’s call to sacrifice his son Isaac and witnessed God’s faithfulness in providing the substitute lamb. Abraham went on to be remembered as the patriarch who was a friend of God.

Abraham could have hardened his heart against God when he saw the fire. But He did not. He chose instead to trust what He had learned in prayer. He chose to trust that God is good. He chose to walk in faith even in the midst of most certain doubts and questions.

What will our response be when the outcome of whatever it is we are bargaining with God over doesn’t turn out the way we want it to? What if we don’t get that last conversation? What if we don’t receive the healing? Will we have learned anything from our conversation with Him? Will we have looked for His heart toward us, and others, in this matter? Will we continue to walk in faith even as we see fire?

I pray so….

Love and blessings,

Denise

Living Holy – one day at a time…..