Can one bargain or haggle with God? Many people try, especially when they are in trouble. They might draw encouragement from the story of Abraham’s negotiations with God over the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah. The story from the earliest Israelite traditions has many characteristics of a folk tale. After all, why should an omniscient God have to go down to the city and see for Himself? Why does God need to be reminded by Abraham of what is fair and just? Wasn’t Abraham rather presumptuous?
Abraham began his bargaining at 50 — surely God would not destroy the cities if 50 righteous people could be found? That wouldn’t be fair! God relented — find me 50 and I won’t destroy the city.
Abraham continued driving a hard bargain — what about 45, 40, 30 and 20? Would God destroy the city if 20 righteous people could be found? In each case God gave way, until finally they were at 10.
Later on it was apparent that the cities must have been wicked indeed for not even 10 righteous individuals were found so the cities were destroyed. Scripture itself and a long rabbinic tradition tell us that the principle sin of these cities was injustice and oppression of the poor and violence towards strangers — both of which were intolerable to the God of Israel.
The point of the story is the power of personal righteousness. Walking in God’s ways might seem futile at times, especially when we feel surrounded by an ocean of materialism, corruption, injustice or violence. One may be the target of ridicule or pressure to “go along with the others.” But standing our ground and doing what is right is never useless or silly. We cannot — and probably should not — impose our moral and spiritual principles on others but we can provide a powerful and efficacious witness by our own life choices.
Even for those that were not so righteous it was never too late. The author of Colossians viewed baptism not only as a ritual death but a portal to the world of new life in God. There was a very keen sense of a clean slate and a fresh start, not primarily through one’s own efforts but the power of God in Christ.
The disciples of Jesus felt a bit left out. John the Baptist had taught his disciples how to pray — what about us? Aren’t you going to give us some instruction? The short and spare version of the Our Father that Luke’s Jesus gave them still has all the essential elements. Live in a manner that gives glory and honour to God’s name. Hope and prepare for the coming of God’s reign. Depend on God for everything, even the essentials of life. Forgive others freely if you want to be forgiven. When put to the test (temptation), stand fast and remember who you are. He could well have added, “Do these and you will live.”
Jesus illustrated Abraham’s familiarity and boldness with God with a series of short parables on persistence in prayer. In Luke’s usual style, the stories were meant to be rather humourous. Can we imagine pounding on a friend’s door in the middle of the night to borrow some bread? Yet the friend will get up and give his neighbour what he asked merely to shut him up. There is no mention of calling the police or threatening the man — the point of the story is persistence. Likewise we cannot imagine giving a child a snake or scorpion when they ask for food. In a classic “lesser to the greater” argument, Jesus teased His audience by noting that although they were “evil” (read: flawed human beings) they still knew how to be generous and take care of their children. If that was the case, how much more generous and caring God is!
Do not pray in a lackluster and half-hearted manner that leaves God wondering if you are serious in your request. Pray in the manner of Luke’s humourous characters — with passion and persistence.