Let's make a bargain...
Updated: Mar 22
In Isaiah 36:1-8, we read about a man whose job title was Rabshakeh, which is the title of a high-ranking Assyrian military officer. At this time, Sennacherib was the king of Assyria and he was sending his best military men to defeat Jerusalem.
In response to this movement, Hezekiah sends his top three officials to meet this military officer and his army. In the next few verses, the Assyrian man tries to convince the Jews that they are trusting in all the wrong things (God) and that their mindsets are irrational ways of thinking.
But in verse 8, the Assyrian man says something that can be easily missed if you’re not looking intently. He says, “Come now, make a wager with my master the king of Assyria: I will give you two thousand horses, if you are able on your part to set riders on them.”
“Make a wager” is a lie the enemy speaks to our generation. The devil is saying, “Let’s make a bargain to get you what you want, and I’ll get something else in return.”
Don’t make peace with the devil to get what you desire. Don’t make peace with the one who brings these awful things into the world:
- Sickness
- Disease
- Human trafficking
- Anxiety
- Homelessness
- Discrimination
- Poverty
- Violence
Think about it. Why would you want to make a deal with the one who brings these terrible things into this world just so that you can get what you want? We know better, yet so many of us have already made our bargains.
Maybe you’re lonely – so you made a deal, and you compromised something that you knew was not the right thing to do. You knew this wasn’t how God wanted you to go about this, but you desired this.
Maybe you’re sad – so you made a deal and now you’ve let the enemy in on your sadness. Perhaps you quit praying and asking God for help because you are so discouraged and you haven’t seen any improvement on anything. Or perhaps you have turned to other things to ease the sadness…
When you start to think I’m tired of being the only one who _____________ - that is when you make a bargain. That is when you make peace with the enemy.
In Matthew 4:1-10, we read about the temptation of Jesus Christ in the wilderness. Jesus had fasted for 40 days and 40 nights and he was hungry. The devil tried to talk him into doing a couple things regarding food and angels, but Jesus rebuked him.
Then, in verses 7-11, the Bible says,
“Jesus said to him, ‘Again, it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’ Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, ‘All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.’ Then Jesus said to him, ‘Be gone, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’ “
The devil really tried to make a deal with Jesus. It actually makes me giggle because the devil really thought he could do it.
For you, however, is there something you want really badly?
Don’t compromise to get it. Don’t take the shortcut with the enemy.
And if you are tempted, or even if you have made a bargain, the grace of God will still pursue you after you committed these sins. Ask for forgiveness, deliverance, and redirection. He will help you if you ask Him.
Let this encourage you in pursuing Christ while desiring something. Don’t make a bargain!
