God's Intervention?

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John146

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#21
Psalm 139:16...Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them...
Post #16 Hezekiah's prayer changed the course God had stated for him. God allowed him to live and added 15 years to his life. Prayer is our means to touch God's heart to intervene.
 

John146

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#22
Power of prayer...a concept that is not in scripture so far as I can see, but I understand what you're saying. Prayer is effective, and He hears us, yes. However, to say that the Lord made changes to how He would otherwise have done on the basis of prayer in a reactionary sense, no.

MM
Another instance...David knew well that God could change his mind through prayer.

2 Samuel 12
4 Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.
15 And Nathan departed unto his house. And the Lord struck the child that Uriah's wife bare unto David, and it was very sick.
16 David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth.
17 And the elders of his house arose, and went to him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them.
18 And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died. And the servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead: for they said, Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spake unto him, and he would not hearken unto our voice: how will he then vex himself, if we tell him that the child is dead?
19 But when David saw that his servants whispered, David perceived that the child was dead: therefore David said unto his servants, Is the child dead? And they said, He is dead.
20 Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel, and came into the house of the Lord, and worshipped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat.
21 Then said his servants unto him, What thing is this that thou hast done? thou didst fast and weep for the child, while it was alive; but when the child was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread.
22 And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether God will be gracious to me, that the child may live?
 

Musicmaster

Active member
Feb 8, 2021
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#23
Do you have scripture to back this up, or man's logic?
Here are some (non-exhaustive) support along that vein, and that are not man's logic:

Acts 2:23 "Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death;

1 Peter 1:2 elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.

2 Samueal 23:5 "Although my house [is] not so with God, Yet He has made with me an everlasting covenant, Ordered in all [things] and secure. For [this is] all my salvation and all [my] desire; Will He not make [it] increase?

Isaiah 46:10 Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times [things] that are not [yet] done, Saying, 'My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure,'

Revelation 1:8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega, [the] Beginning and [the] End," says the Lord, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."

Do YOU doubt the Lord's Sovereignty?

MM
 

Musicmaster

Active member
Feb 8, 2021
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#24
God intervening in the affairs of men -- particularly the ones who trust in Him -- is a given. It has noting to do with Deism. The incarnation, death, burial and resurrection of Christ was a major intervention.
Hmm, I would have to say that I disagree, given this:

Revelation 13:8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

There are many other verses I could post, but suffice it to say that the fall of man, and the shed Blood of Christ, it was all within the scope of God's plan for this world of man.

To say that the Lord is surprised by events, that's a subtraction from His Sovereignty, which is a typical practice within the arena of Gnosticism.

MM
 

Musicmaster

Active member
Feb 8, 2021
407
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#25
Another instance...David knew well that God could change his mind through prayer.

2 Samuel 12
4 Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.
15 And Nathan departed unto his house. And the Lord struck the child that Uriah's wife bare unto David, and it was very sick.
16 David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth.
17 And the elders of his house arose, and went to him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them.
18 And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died. And the servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead: for they said, Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spake unto him, and he would not hearken unto our voice: how will he then vex himself, if we tell him that the child is dead?
19 But when David saw that his servants whispered, David perceived that the child was dead: therefore David said unto his servants, Is the child dead? And they said, He is dead.
20 Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel, and came into the house of the Lord, and worshipped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat.
21 Then said his servants unto him, What thing is this that thou hast done? thou didst fast and weep for the child, while it was alive; but when the child was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread.
22 And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether God will be gracious to me, that the child may live?
You can try to assume into David's beliefs any number of things, and yet it will remain nothing more than just assumption on your part. The concept of God allegedly changing His mind...no. To say otherwise is to claim that the Lord is caught off guard, and therefore lacks foreknowledge that I have clearly laid out above.

MM
 

Cameron143

Well-known member
Mar 1, 2022
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#26
God sees us in the womb, not being yet completely formed, and all my members, parts of my body, God has put together. There is structure God has put forth as he forms a child in the womb.

16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.
I don't think you understand the significance of the verse. It is God who opens the womb. Each birth is at His behest, and each person bears His unique design. If you couple this with Acts 17, God determines our times, our place of birth, and with James, even our success or failure in business...if the Lord wills.
God is intimately involved in every life: from its inception to our parting...that, happly, we might find Him...though He be not far from us.
 

Musicmaster

Active member
Feb 8, 2021
407
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#27
God intervened big time in Jeremiah’s life:

Jeremiah 1:4-9: Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child. But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD. Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth.
I don't see any measure of God being reactionary, and therefore out of control, in any of that.

MM
 

Musicmaster

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Feb 8, 2021
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#28
God always intervened with man's affairs throughout the entire Old testament appearing to Moses to set the people free, or raising up judges then kings. Sending angels to Daniel would be intervention. Now we have the holy Spirit as every believer to guide our lives in perfect personal holiness. God lives in us doesn't seem like forsaking a ticking clock. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit makes all things possible. The same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead dwells in us. Our prayers need only travel as far as our hearts where the Spirit dwells; that's not a far away God.
How do you know that none of that was already known and pro-actively addressed in the Power of God before the world ever was? Do YOU believe God is blind to the future?

MM
 

Musicmaster

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#29
The Lord declared to Hezekiah that he was going to die. Hezekiah prayed, and the Lord heard his prayer, Hezekiah did not die, but lived another 15 years. Hezekiah's prayer touched the heart of God, and God allowed him to live and not die as he had stated.

Isaiah 38
1 In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came unto him, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Set thine house in order: for thou shalt die, and not live.
2 Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall, and prayed unto the Lord,
3 And said, Remember now, O Lord, I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore.
4 Then came the word of the Lord to Isaiah, saying,
5 Go, and say to Hezekiah, Thus saith the Lord, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen years.
Yes, the Lord described in the Bible heard that prayer, and He heard it before it was ever uttered. The Lord saw it from before the world was.

Any other alternative creates a god unknown to the scriptures, and steals from the One true God His being the Alpha and Omega.

MM
 

Musicmaster

Active member
Feb 8, 2021
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#30
Our prayers to God can cause things to happen, that would not and should not have happened in the natural course of history, but because we prayed, God intervened and made a way.
Nope! I don't buy that. We do not hold the atoms together in this universe. He does. All things consist by the Power of His Word.

MM
 

Cameron143

Well-known member
Mar 1, 2022
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#31
Post #16 Hezekiah's prayer changed the course God had stated for him. God allowed him to live and added 15 years to his life. Prayer is our means to touch God's heart to intervene.
I believe prayer can touch the heart of God. But a being that is omniscient cannot have already known the prayer was coming; even before He created you.
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
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#32
To say that the Lord is surprised by events, that's a subtraction from His Sovereignty, which is a typical practice within the arena of Gnosticism.
Who said anything about the Lord being surprised? But to deny His intervention in the affairs of men is rather foolish. And then to bring in Gnosticism is even more foolish.
 

John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
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#33
Here are some (non-exhaustive) support along that vein, and that are not man's logic:

Acts 2:23 "Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death;

1 Peter 1:2 elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.

2 Samueal 23:5 "Although my house [is] not so with God, Yet He has made with me an everlasting covenant, Ordered in all [things] and secure. For [this is] all my salvation and all [my] desire; Will He not make [it] increase?

Isaiah 46:10 Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times [things] that are not [yet] done, Saying, 'My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure,'

Revelation 1:8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega, [the] Beginning and [the] End," says the Lord, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."

Do YOU doubt the Lord's Sovereignty?

MM
Calvin's sovereignty of God is not biblical. God has complete dominion over all creation, but He has not determined all things that occur.

Acts 2:23 "Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; The death of Jesus was determined at the beginning. You cannot use this logic that God has determined all things to occur.

1 Peter 1:2 elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied. Peter, speaking of the means of salvation, was determined before it happened, not individuals getting saved.

2 Samueal 23:5 "Although my house [is] not so with God, Yet He has made with me an everlasting covenant, Ordered in all [things] and secure. For [this is] all my salvation and all [my] desire; Will He not make [it] increase? God's covenant with Israel is a promise by God and nothing man can do will cause God to go back on that covenant.

Isaiah 46:10 Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times [things] that are not [yet] done, Saying, 'My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure,' God has declared the end from the beginning. Have you ever read Revelation? God reigns on the throne over all creation in a new heaven and earth. To use this logic to mean all things in between causes God to be the author of sin. No thank you. That's Calvin's God, not the God of the bible.

Revelation 1:8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega, [the] Beginning and [the] End," says the Lord, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty." True statement, nothing to do with my post.
 

John146

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#34
Nope! I don't buy that. We do not hold the atoms together in this universe. He does. All things consist by the Power of His Word.

MM
Absolutely, that's why we pray to the one who has the power to cause change.
 

John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
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#36
I believe prayer can touch the heart of God. But a being that is omniscient cannot have already known the prayer was coming; even before He created you.
Can God change his mind? Can God repent, and change his course? Ever read Jonah? Hezekiah? David knew this truth, that's why David prayed. God declared that David's child would die. David prayed and fasted that the child would live.

22 And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether God will be gracious to me, that the child may live?
 

Cameron143

Well-known member
Mar 1, 2022
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#37
Can God change his mind? Can God repent, and change his course? Ever read Jonah? Hezekiah? David knew this truth, that's why David prayed. God declared that David's child would die. David prayed and fasted that the child would live.

22 And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether God will be gracious to me, that the child may live?
Can an omniscient being not know something and still be omniscient. You and I have limitations. God has none. The Bible often uses human qualities to describe God so we can better understand Him. We should not conclude that this is the extent of the qualities of God.
 

John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
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#39
Can an omniscient being not know something and still be omniscient. You and I have limitations. God has none. The Bible often uses human qualities to describe God so we can better understand Him. We should not conclude that this is the extent of the qualities of God.
Yes, if He chooses to be. Scripture states that God is perfect in Knowledge. If there is knowledge to be known, God knows it. The number of sand on a beach is knowledge only God could know. Thoughts in your mind is knowledge only God can know.

What if future decisions are not knowledge to be known until one makes the decision? Maybe God has allowed man to have a free will to make choices all day everyday. And God is still working in and through man's choices to bring about his desired end. That is a mighty God.

And please, if you're reading this, do not use phrases like, "God is surprised...caught off guard...etc...."
 

John146

Senior Member
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#40
This place never ceases to amaze me. Are you trying to teach that God does NOT know the future?
Only go by what the scripture actually says and not man's thoughts on the scripture. Have you ever read Jonah?