Not only do they not know the law, most are chickens. The seller tried to back out on the sale of the house I'm sitting in right now, after the contract was signed. I jerked him up by the short hairs and had the house in a week. The real estate agents involved were appalled that I was so aggressive, but I was right.
Buyers are usually the ones to renege, not sellers, which is one reason so few people know the rules on this issue.
I agree. Also, don't necessarily think the agent is in the same boat as you.
I'm suspicious that it wasn't God who told the seller not to sell to you, but perhaps a higher offer from someone else. So the real estate agent knows he or she will be taken care of with a higher commission based upon the higher sales price from the other offeror. So that is why they are not much help in keeping your deal together.
Again, get your own lawyer, and fast. The time to exercise your rights may expire more quickly than you think.