Exodus 32:11 But Moses implored the LORD his God and said, "O LORD, why does your wrath burn hot against your people, whom you have brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? 12 …Turn from your burning anger and relent from this disaster against your people…14 And the LORD relented from the disaster that he had spoken of bringing on his people.
One of the intriguing mysteries of Scripture is the marriage of the providence of the Sovereign Lord and the effectual prayers of a righteous man. How are these two truths united? Or are they? Can a righteous man’s prayers change the mind or the plans of the Sovereign Lord? In the narrative of the golden calf did not God tell Moses that He would destroy the people due to their stiff-necks? Moses, then made a plea to God on behalf of the people, His promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and His testimony before the Egyptians. Scripture then teaches, “and then the Lord relented.” Did Moses’ prayer change God or did it change Moses? Again, within this passage we find two powerful truths which appear to clash: God’s sovereignty verses the power of prayer. From my limited point of view I am unable to justify the two, but God’s glorious Word teaches both and in both can I find the greatest of peace and pleasure.
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This passage is such a weird one for the very reason you note. Especially when the is other Scripture that tells us, "God is not a man that he would change his mind."
ReplyDeleteThanks for your thoughts! I am meditating on this.