Am I the only one or have you also found yourself in a spot of bother and bargained with God? If He would allow you just one more chance, you will be better? If He will just that or this…?

Abraham did the same, but in his case as we find it in Genesis 18: 23-32, he did not do it for his own well-being and needs but for that of others. When God warned Him that He is going to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, Abraham started the bargaining plea. He asked God that if there were 50 righteous people, if God would spare the city? God would. If there were only 45 righteous people? God would. And so he continued up to 10 people and God still said He would.

The problem? There were not even 10 righteous people in the city to spare. So God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.

What astonishes me is that God was prepared to entertain Abraham’s deal up to the point where Abraham stopped. What if Abraham continued to the point of finding only one righteous person? Chances are God would have saved those cities for only one person…

God was not the one that placed the limits on the deal, it was Abraham. He stopped at ten instead of one.

There are no limits to God’s goodness. But our minds and how we perceive Him or what we think He would do is limiting Him. If we are prepared to receive ten gallons of His goodness, He will give it. If we are willing to receive two gallons of His goodness, He will give it.

When we believe there are limits to God’s goodness, we begin to bargain with Him. When we think there are conditions to God’s forgiveness, we bargain with Him and so we may find ourselves bargaining with Him, for reasons never imposed by Him.

The Word says, “For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.” (Ps 100:5, ESV)

Bargaining with God comes as no surprise to Him and He is always willing to listen to our deals but there is more for us with Him. Join me and let’s turn our bargaining deals into receiving ponds:

Father God, you know me, better than I know myself. You placed no limits on me and the abilities You placed within me. It is me and the limits that I place on myself that causes me to limit You Lord. 

Lord let me loosen the limits I have placed on You. Enlarge my expectations of You, my capacity to receive from You and give me the wisdom to know Your heart for me in every situation. Lord there is no end to Your goodness. There is no darkness in Your light. Help me to see that and to believe it.

Lord, I lay my bargains before You and I trust in Your goodness and faithfulness instead of my perceptions and abilities. Thank you Lord for bearing with me in my shortcomings and for never giving up on me but instead waiting on me to find Your will and love for me. Thank You in Jesus’ mighty Name, Amen.