The attributes for this story are complicated, so let me get the story straight, first.
Rabbi Ben Esra, (17th century) noticed one of his congregants gesticulating angrily while praying. The rabbi asked was going on. The congregant explained that he was telling God that he was a sinner who sometimes mistreated his wife and children (but God knew what they were like), occasionally cheated a bit in his business, and told the odd lie. However, he went on and told God that his sins were worse, as God allowed earthquakes droughts, storms, wars, and more. Finally he explained to God that they should strike a deal. He would forgive God's sins if God forgave his. What did the rabbi think of this?
The rabbi paused to think.
Finally, the rabbi said he was surprised that his friend had let God off so lightly. He should have insisted that God send a Messiah and effect redemption for all he had done.
*I read this story as related in Volume II of Cardinal Pell's Prison Journal and he was relating the story from Father Tony Kerin's homily on Mass for You at Home program on Australian TV.
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