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Jesus seems to have appreciated boldness; one of his favorite disciples – Peter – being more bold than smart at times. Sadly, an activity Jesus accepts and expects boldness from us being one we’re least likely to practice it, in prayer. “Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said: In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’ For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care about men, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually wear me out with her coming!’”

“And the Lord said, listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly.” Luke 18:2-8

Some read this parable and mistakenly think the judge is somewhat representative of God. Nothing could be further from the truth, any comparison between the two is meant to emphasize the difference between a reluctant benefactor and a God who is eager to provide for his people; albeit on his own terms. (See Exodus 22:22-24; Psalm 68:5-10; James 1:27)

The main point is for us to be persistent in prayer, boldly returning to God until we perceive his purpose in what we are seeking and accepting his yes – no – or wait response. Contrasting God’s readiness to be our sustainer/provider as opposed to the world’s sometimes grudging enforcement of the law and its benefits.

At another point, Jesus was questioned about how to pray effectively, and after giving them the example of what has become known as the Lord’s Prayer, he gave them another lesson in comparative analogy. “Suppose one of you has a friend, and he goes to him at midnight and says, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him.’ Then the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man’s boldness (sometimes rendered as persistence) he will get up and give him as much as he needs.” Luke 11:5-8

Again, the issue addressed here is of a consistent, persistent, confident approach to God with our needs. Jesus definitively declaring, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” Luke 11:9 (See also Mark 11:24- tempered somewhat by John’s clarification,”…if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.” 1 John 5:14) Jesus reiterating his point further by asking, “Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” Matthew 7:9-11

Brad Young explaining, “One prays with bold determination because God is good. He is not like the contemptible friend who would not help his neighbor. He is not like the corrupt judge who feared neither God nor man who refused to help a needy widow… Jesus us(ing) irony and humor to illustrate the nature of God.” (None more so than in the stone for bread and snake for fish allusion mentioned above.) “People mistakenly pray as if God is a friend who does not care or a judge who does not deal justly. But role-playing with the divine nature and by using an exaggerated characterization of what God is not like, Jesus teaches his followers what God is like. In many ways the theme of these colorful illustrations can be summarized by saying, ‘God is your good friend.’ (And) Because God is good, perseverance in prayer will receive an answer. Faith in God is defined as bold persistence.”1 (Abraham’s over-the-top boldness in bargaining with God for the safety of any “just” men in Sodom and Gomorrah an example of absolute trust that God would understand his concerns and respond appropriately.)

Athol Dickson writing, “It takes more faith to ask than it takes to fear the asking. It takes faith to be ready for whatever answer comes, and faith to persevere with more questions if that answer is not understood… Sometimes asking questions is a way to demonstrate humility, because inherent in the question is the assumption that I do not know, God does. Sincere questions give God respect. They acknowledge his power. They honor him.” 2

That kind of respect insures some circumspection in our approach to God, reining in our tendency to “babble” at Him; thinking that with many words we can get God’s attention and persuade him to do something he might not otherwise be inclined to do. (Matthew 6:27) He is our heavenly father, but he won’t be manipulated into giving us all we “need” and desire. And He is certainly not a high-fiving, back-slapping good-ole-boy we can always depend on for a couple of bucks, a drink and a good joke – and occasionally advice; who we otherwise ignore.

Others equate prayer with “wrestling” with God (Genesis 32:24-28), a “good” answer contingent on the amount of faith we express in the asking; devastating many needy, hurting people who then become convinced it was their lack of faith which resulted in a “negative” response from Him. Many not understanding that God isn’t necessarily realized in the outcome of our prayers, but in his presence, regardless of his response in our daily lives. (Admittedly a hard concept to grasp, especially when we’re in the midst of heartache and loss.) Because after all is said and done, “The issue of prayer is not (just) prayer. The issue of prayer is God.”3 And thus, how we pray reveals what we believe about God.

The ultimate goal of many prayers is for personal comfort, prosperity and secular success. A number of churches and church movements focusing on how to “claim our blessings” and “speaking prosperity into our lives.” Which I wouldn’t classify as being bold but selfish; legitimate prayer ideally engaged in on behalf of others at least as much as ourselves. (Not to mention the time we should spend just thanking and praising God for who he is.) Anytime God answers a prayer (and he always does, even if we don’t understand the why’s and how’s of the moment), it is out of sheer grace and compassion, not because our

prayers are so eloquent or our behavior so exemplary. Whatever he gives – or withholds – we can rejoice and find consolation in the fact that God is good, powerful and kind – all the time. Therefore, “Let us approach the throne of God with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and grace to help us in our time of need.” Hebrews 4:16

1From Jesus, The Jewish Theologian, Peabody Publishing, quoted by Lois Tverberg in Walking in the Dust of Rabbi Jesus

2From The Gospel of Moses, by renowned 20th century Jewish theologian Abraham Heschel

3 ibid

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