And Jephthah made a vow to the Lord and said, “If you will give the Ammonites into my hand, then whatever comes out from the doors of my house to meet me when I return in peace from the Ammonites shall be the Lord’s, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering.”
When I began attending church again, I realized how far I drifted away from God. I prayed for a godly husband to steer me on the proper path. In return, I promised God I would attend church and do what my new friends in small group suggested, such as have a daily quiet time to read the Bible and pray.
In my previous post, we met Jephthah, the rejected son of a prostitute, and the eighth judge of the Israelites. God gave him His power to defeat the Ammonites (Judges 11:29). Then Jephthah tried to bargain with God with a reckless vow.
The Bible says, “And Jephthah made a vow to the Lord and said, ‘If you will give the Ammonites into my hand,then whatever comes out from the doors of my house to meet me when I return in peace from the Ammonites shall be the Lord’s, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering’” (Judges 11:30–31 ESV)
Why do we bargain with God?
We bargain with God because we doubt His promises
Jephthah doubted God’s promise of victory. He wanted power for himself, to prove his worth on his own terms.
God fulfilled Jephthah’s request for victory. Sadly, his only child, a daughter, was the first person out the door of his house upon his return.
The Bible says, “When he saw her, he tore his clothes and cried, ‘Oh no, my daughter! You have brought me down and I am devastated. I have made a vow to the Lord that I cannot break’” (Judges 11:35 NIV).
Scholars debate whether Jephthah actually offered his daughter as a burnt offering, since this was against God’s commandments. Perhaps his daughter was given to lifelong service as a virgin in the tabernacle instead of a burnt offering. We don’t know for sure.
I also doubted God’s promises. Doesn’t God say He will give me the desires of my heart (Psalm 37:4)? Except I ignored the first part of this verse to take delight in the Lord. Instead, I depended on other people instead of God.
It’s OK to have doubts
What if the Bible isn’t true? Was Jesus really the Son of God? Did Jesus really rise from the dead?
Occasionally, doubts may creep in. But God wants us to ask questions when we doubt. He can use our seasons of doubt to lead us to a deeper relationship with Him.
Even John the Baptist doubted Jesus was the Messiah. The Bible says, “When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to ask him, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else’” (Matthew 11:2–3 NIV)?
Why bargaining with God is impossible
First, we wish to be in control when we bargain with God, but it’s impossible. God’s names illustrate who He is and His ultimate power over all things.
For example, He is Elohim, the creator of heaven and earth. He is El Shaddai, with power over everything. He is YAHWEH, also known as the great “I AM,” the ultimate source of wisdom, forgiveness, and salvation.
Second, we give God human characteristics. People don’t keep their promises, but God does what He says He will do. His thoughts and ways are far superior to ours (Isaiah 55:8-9). God is faithful. He always keeps His promises.
Final thoughts
The story of Jephthah ends with a civil war between the Ephraimites and the Giliadites. It is a sad story of the descendants of two brothers, Ephraim and Manasseh, quarreling because of pride. Read Judges 12:1-7 for the full account.
Looking back at my bargain with God, I chuckle to myself. I realize God desired a relationship, not a rule follower, though I admit I still struggle with depending on other people instead of God.
The Bible says, “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ. And so through him the ‘Amen’ is spoken by us to the glory of God” (2 Corinthians 1:20 NIV).
All God’s promises culminate in His Son, Jesus Christ, who offers forgiveness and eternal life for all who believe in Him.
Friend, I don’t know what bargains you made with God, but it’s ok to doubt His promises. Instead of bargaining, bring your doubts and questions to Him in prayer. Trust Him with whatever situation you are in. He desires a relationship with you!
Thank you for your post “Bargaining with God and also depending on other people. I can certainly relate to this in my life. Also thank you for the scripture reference.
Hi Jeanette, thanks for your comment. We always want to depend on other people instead of God, don’t we? Depending on God is a journey that takes a lifetime. But as they say, the rewards are priceless!