When You Understand the Cross, You Stop Negotiating With God
Rev. Aniekan "Mbomboyo" Okokon ·
He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? — Romans 8:32
Jacob at Bethel made God an offer: if You will be with me, and feed me, and clothe me, and bring me home, then You will be my God and I will give You a tenth. It is a very human prayer, and most of us have prayed a version of it. If You heal her, I will serve You. If You give me the job, I will tithe. If You get me through this, I will never again.
God did not reject Jacob. But the cross makes Jacob's kind of prayer unnecessary, and eventually a little embarrassing.
Why we negotiate
Negotiation assumes two things: that God's favour is uncertain, and that we have something to trade for it. The cross denies both. His favour toward those in Christ is settled - He did not spare His own Son. And we have nothing to trade; the Son was given while we were enemies, before we offered anything.
What Romans 8:32 does to a bargain
Paul argues from the greater to the lesser. If God has already given the greatest gift - His Son - will He withhold lesser things from those He gave Him for? The logic does not leave room for a deal. You cannot buy from someone who has already given you everything.
The difference between a vow and a deal
Scripture does not forbid vows; it forbids using them as currency. "I will serve You" is a fine thing to say. "I will serve You if" is a different thing entirely. The first is a son's response; the second is a customer's offer.
What replaces negotiation
- Asking. Children ask; they do not bargain.
- Trusting. When the answer is no, the cross is still yes.
- Thanking. A gift received is answered with gratitude, not with a counter-offer.
- Surrender. Not "I will give You this if", but "I am Yours, whatever comes."
When you understand the cross, you stop negotiating with God for the same reason you stop haggling once the shopkeeper has given you the goods. The price was paid by Someone else. There is nothing left to argue about - only a Father to thank.