Day 22 of #31dbc!

Are you a “deal maker”?

Can you walk into a car dealership and walk out with a really, really great deal? Can you see through the “smoke and mirrors” strategy?

Some people are natural born negotiators. They are just good at bargaining, it’s not a bad trait to have in the business world. I always heard if your name was Sam, you had it made when it came to making a good deal. Sam was just a “good ‘ole boys” name and the “Sam’s” of this world knew how to pull off a transaction!

But can you rightfully negotiate with Almighty God? Is that cool?

Sometimes yes. Sometimes NOT.

Let’s look at a couple of examples of Great Negotiators that God was pleased with.

Moses had led the children of Israel out of Egyptian bondage. No longer were they slaves to Pharaoh, they were wandering in the wilderness trying to get to Canaan. While Moses was up on Mount Sinai receiving the Ten Commandments from the Lord, they were busy down below having a “high-old time” making a golden calf to worship.

When Moses sees what is going on, the Lord tells him that He is going to destroy the wicked people of Israel.

“The LORD said to Moses, ‘I have seen this people, and behold, they are an obstinate people. Now then let Me alone, that My anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them; and I will make of you a great nation.’”  Exodus 32:9-10.

It is said in the Bible that Moses walked with God and God spoke with him “mouth to mouth”, some versions say “face to face”…God even chides Miriam and Aaron, Moses’ siblings, for wanting to be God’s mouthpiece, and He tells them that there is no one like Moses!

“My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house. With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the Lord shall he behold…” Exodus 12:7-8.

Moses is terrified at the prospect of God destroying the children of Israel and he begins to “negotiate” for their lives.

“Then Moses entreated the LORD his God, and said, ‘O LORD, why does Your anger burn against Your people whom You have brought out from the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? Why should the Egyptians speak, saying, ‘With evil intent He brought them out to kill them in the mountains and to destroy them from the face of the earth’?

Turn from Your burning anger and change Your mind about doing harm to Your people. Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, Your servants to whom You swore by Yourself, and said to them, ‘I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heavens, and all this land of which I have spoken I will give to your descendants, and they shall inherit it forever.’ So the LORD changed His mind about the harm which He said He would do to His people.” Exodus 32:11-14.

Did it work? Obviously it did, Israel is still a nation to this day.

You mean we can change the mind of God?!!

Yes and No.

This does not make God weak! He is looking for people like YOU and ME to stand in the gap for others! He wants to do good for His people, He is moved by compassion and is full of love and mercy.

But He doesn’t do our bidding every time we decide we want to negotiate…we will get to that in a minute.

Abraham was another great negotiator. His story of bargaining with God for the city of Sodom and Gomorrah is a famous one. Let’s peek in:

Abraham and Sarah had just been visited by the Lord and told that they would have a child…in their “very old age”. Maybe you remember Sarah laughed. She said she didn’t laugh, God reminded her, “Oh but you did laugh!” I always get the giggles over that part. (Genesis 18:15).

Then as the men and the Lord are leaving, Abraham walks along with them and the Lord says to the men that are with Him, “Should I tell Abraham what I am about to do?”

God is about to destroy the wickedness of the twin cities and Abraham is prepared to intercede because his nephew, Lot, and his family live there. We are privileged to “listen in” on this conversation between Almighty God and Abraham: “Would You also destroy the righteous with the wicked? Suppose there were fifty righteous within the city; would You also destroy the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous that were in it?” Exodus 18:23-24 NKJV.

The Lord is gracious to Abraham’s request and replies in kind, “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.”

Abraham is pretty excited that he is gaining ground so he decides to ask for a little better deal and tries for 45 righteous.

Boom! He gets 45!

He’s getting more brave and asks for 40…Done! “How about 30, Lord? Would you destroy it if there were 30 righteous?” The Lord answers in the positive for 30…Abraham cannot believe how well this is going!

How about twenty then? Okay, if there are 20, you got it.

At this point he is a little nervous about pushing his luck but decides to try one more time…all the while Lot and his family are on his mind. “Then he said, “Let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak but once more: Suppose ten should be found there?”

The Lord in His mercy finally answers, “I will not destroy it for the sake of ten.”

Now you may be saying to yourself at this point, “But Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed by God in the next chapter!”

That’s true, they were. Lot’s family was less than the ten that Abraham bargained for and the wicked city was destroyed. But Abraham’s relationship with God moved Him to compassion to show love and mercy.

What we have been talking about is really called “interceding for others”.

Are there any times we are not to deal with God? Oh, most certainly!

We all have done it. “If you get me out of this mess I have made, God…I will serve you the rest of my life, I promise!”

“If you answer this prayer, Lord, I will give 20% of my tithe from now on, until eternity!”

“Lord, if you let me win the lottery this week I promise I will give half of it to missions!”

We all know that kind of dealing with God is immature, foolish and He would not be pleased, nor do I think He is sitting up there waiting to shower us with lottery winnings.

But when our “negotiating” or the better word, “interceding” is for others, the Lord listens, His compassion is stirred and He will hear our cry.

Don’t be afraid to ask God for help.

If your motives are pure, not selfish or for self-profit, He might just show up, surprise you and save the day.

 

As we enter this season of thankfulness, I thought it would be good to hear from you, from your corner of the globe and right here close by too. Some of you I hear from regularly, some read but have never commented. What I would love to know is three things:

1. Something God has done for you in 2013, what you are most thankful for.

2. What you want to see accomplished in your spiritual walk in 2014.

3. How you and your family will be celebrating the Thanksgiving Holiday if at all.

Mention what state or country you are from. You can email me your response to ynannette@gmail.com . I would like to use the information in my Thanksgiving post and show what God has been doing around the world! I will only use first names so you don’t have to worry about confidentiality. But if you do not even want me to use your name at all, please say so in your post and I will respect your wishes.

This will be a great blessing! I hope you will take a couple of minutes and answer the questions for me. I love and appreciate every one of you. These last eight months have been some of the most rewarding of my life and I thank you for being a part of the journey.

Sharing with Walking Redeemed, Encourage One Another, A Little R & R, Wise Woman Builds, Winsome Wednesday, Women Living Well