Trying to Bribe God

"For the LORD, your God, is the God of gods, the Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who has no favorites, accepts no bribes, who executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and loves the resident alien, giving them food and clothing." Dt 10: 17-18
 

When we are struggling with life or with family or the church, there is a temptation to bargain with God. After all, we say, Abraham did it. (Gen 18) Moses did it. (Num 11) David did it. (2 Sam 24) I might as well try. Perhaps with a little clever talk and prayer we can get God to see things our way. At times, especially for those who travel, bargaining seems natural, even necessary. In many parts of the world, native people think visitors are foolish and naive to pay the retail prices listed. If bargaining is a way of life for many people in the world, why not try it with God.

But Deuteronomy reminds us that that we cannot bribe God, and that God has no favorites. Asking God for help, not just in difficult circumstances but always, is a form of prayer and we should never hesitate to ask for what we need. At the same time, we must acknowledge that God has always had our good in mind and that there have been and will be times in our life when we must endure darkness and confusion for the sake of God's reign. What makes these moments especially difficult is that we rarely have insight about God's way for us and almost never know exactly what God is doing.

What we do know, however, is that God looks our for the poor, the orphaned and widows, and will do the same for us. We may not know exactly how God is active in our lives or what God wants us to do for the poor, but we do know that God wants us to accompany those most in need as they seek justice in the world, and this is especially true for those people the scripture calls "resident aliens."  Because God did not want the Jewish people to forget that when he freed them from slavery in Egypt, they were "foreigners", "aliens", and a people without a land, God reminds them to care for those who still have no place, no country to call their own, and at the very least to give them food and clothing. 

Can we afford to do less for the undocumented in our country?

Today, remember those lost, and often forgotten, in the quagmire of refugee camps?

What practices help you remember to be grateful each day for all God's gifts?