Why Human Beings Bargain With God….

Ever wonder why human beings bargain with God? I know it’s part of the “grieving process”, but can we really offer God something in order to make Him change His mind in an obligatory manner? The answer comes straight from His own mouth in Job chapter 41. It comes in the form of a rhetorical question. If everything belongs to God, including us, what can we offer? NOTHING. And yet so many religions teach you can do enough to earn God’s affection. Humans want to take credit for things. It gives us a sense of contribution, like we can earn or deserve it. Christianity is a response to what God has already done. Our obedience to His commands are out of gratitude not obligation or in order to gain. For anyone to think he can give God something He doesn’t already possess is ludicrous. Job had been suffering for some time now. His friends only made things worse. In his disillusionment of grief and loss, he began to question God’s sovereignty. He began to focus solely on himself. God never answered Job’s questions. And yet, Job repented of his actions of false perception brought on by his distress. All of this happened before God restored Job’s health, family, and possessions. What does that tell us? God is sovereign. He owns everything. Our only response is gratitude. It doesn’t earn us anything. It just gives God what He wants. And in return, we get faith that calms our innate sense that we can get our way by trying to bargain with God.

11 Who has given Me anything that I need to pay back? Everything under heaven is Mine. Job 41:11