Is It Okay To Bargain With God When Praying?

 1 Sam. 1:10-11 - She, greatly distressed, prayed to the LORD and wept bitterly. She made a vow and said, "O LORD of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a son, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and a razor shall never come on his head."  NASU 

• Hannah Bargains With God 

I have spoken with people who felt it was absolutely wrong to ever bargain with God when praying. You may be reading this Pump Up thinking I believe it is wrong to bargain with God while praying.
 
I would say, "Okay, for you it would be wrong, but not for someone who doesn't believe like you." In our scripture text today we can see that Hannah prayed to the LORD while in great distress and in her prayer she bargains with God. She says, "If You Will…I will…"
 
My friends that is what we call bargaining. If you do something for me then I will do something for you. She not only bargains with God, He accepts the terms of her bargaining. 

• What Caused Her To Bargain With God 

It was caused by her physical condition that she could not bear children. The reason she couldn't bear children was because God had closed her womb.
 
It wasn't bad enough she couldn't bear children but she was reminded of her situation constantly by her rival Peninnah, Elkanah's other wife.
 
1 Sam. 1:6 - Her rival, however, would provoke her bitterly to irritate her, because the LORD had closed her womb. NASU
 
God says, one woman for one man and man tries to improve upon God's plan and says, you can have more than one wife if you want? Now what could ever go wrong with that plan? Two women under the same roof, in the same kitchen, oh I am sure that will work perfectly. 

• God Accepts Her Conditions 

God not only accepted her terms he blesses her with a son. Hannah names him Samuel, which means "heard of God."
 
1 Sam. 1:19-20 - And Elkanah had relations with Hannah his wife, and the LORD remembered her.  It came about in due time, after Hannah had conceived, that she gave birth to a son; and she named him Samuel, saying, "Because I have asked him of the LORD." NASU
 
Do you have some physical handicap that you would like to have changed? Then ask the Lord. If it is His will He will grant you your petition.
 
Are you being provoked by someone then take it to the Lord? Hannah did and God changed her situation and life. If it is His will He can do the same for you.
 
Have you ever felt that God or life has dealt you a bad hand? Hannah did and she wept bitterly about it. She takes her prayer to God and bargains with Him in it. 

• God May Accept Your Conditions 

God may accept your conditions as you bargain with Him, but there is one thing you really need to know. God kept His part of the bargain and so did Hannah keep her end of the deal.
 
Don't bargain with God if you are not serious about keeping your end of the deal.
 
1 Sam. 1:26-28 - She said, "Oh, my lord! As your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you, praying to the LORD.  "For this boy I prayed, and the LORD has given me my petition which I asked of Him."So I have also dedicated him to the LORD; as long as he lives he is dedicated to the LORD." And he worshiped the LORD there. 
 
Think On These:
 
One thing you can give and still keep is your word.
 
A broken promise is something the best glue can't fix.
 
God's promises are like life preservers. They keep the soul from sinking in the sea of trouble.
 
Stay Pumped,

Gary A. Serago

Minister of God's Word

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