Let's Make a Deal

Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear,…”

Gen 28:20 ESV

The introduction of game shows into our culture began decades ago and they refuse to die a respectful death. Instead of wandering off into the desert and withering away of thirst and neglect they seem to have expanded through the decades. As you may have gathered, I have never been much of a fan. If you walked into my living room and see me in my easy chair with a game show playing on the TV, check my pulse, I'm probably dead.

Besides the obvious waste of time and their frivolous nature I have often thought what those in developing countries must think of contestants vying for prizes and cash while they scrap for their next meal. One such game which has endured through the generations is, Let's Make a Deal. It might interest you to know that the origins of that game go back many generations to a biblical character by the name of Jacob and it all started one lonely night in a desert.

Traveling to a city he had never visited, to find a wife he had not yet met, he laid down to sleep, placing his head on a rocky pillow. No doubt the fear of his brother Esau, who had recently sworn to kill him, played on his mind. Was he lurking behind a cactus with a sharp blade? It was a miracle he could sleep at all. Resting comfortably under the stars Jacob had a dream to end all dreams. He witnessed a staircase leading up to Heaven with angels ascending and descending. At the top of this ladder stood none other than God Himself. After identifying Himself as the God of Abraham and Isaac and he promised to be with him wherever he went and to bring him back into the land to which he would someday give him. This was all done to fulfill a promise made to his grandfather, Abraham. Rather than falling down and worshipping, Jacob's response was to make a deal and what a deal it was. Jacob regurgitated the promise God had just made and added a few caveats concerning food and clothing. He made a commitment that if God would simply fulfill his part of the bargain that he would in turn would follow this God of Abraham.

It is a mark of immaturity as a follower of God to barter with the Most High concerning his care and blessing over us. Books are written and sermons are preached with this philosophy firmly intact. Believers are led to embrace a theology that places God in the position of a genie. God must fulfill His part before we will be fully committed to the Kingdom. Deliverance from daily struggles and irritating people are seen as God's primary interest and we will follow him if he keeps his part of the bargain. Likewise, placed into the minds of Christians is the idea that if we will just be faithful to him, he will be faithful to us, and we get to define the terms. As one friend told me years ago, “I have been faithful to God, but He has disappointed me.”

God has made many promises but instant deliverance and acquiescence to our demands are not a part of those assurances. The truth of the gospel is found in what He has done for us in the cross of Jesus Christ, not in the incessant claims and immature prating of our self-centered demands for what we want him to do today. He has said I will never leave you or forsake you and that is enough. We must be convinced of this in our hearts and make it abundantly clear to those whom have chosen to follow Him.