In Dutch, the title of this blog is: “laat God Zich verbidden?” The Dutch verb verbidden literally contains the word bidden (“to pray”) and conveys the idea of persuading God through prayer. Is that possible?
Scripture speaks several times about God allowing Himself to be persuaded. But if that means we can persuade God through our prayers, that seems problematic, for Scripture declares that God is not a man, that He should repent (Num. 23:19). What, then, is the “persuasion” that the Bible speaks of?
Examples
Below are 2 examples from the Statenvertaling where the word “persuade” (Dutch: verbidden) appears and where it is clear that God is not persuaded by human prayer, but that He has a plan and sticks to it.
Genesis 25
21 And Isaac prayed earnestly to the LORD in the presence of his wife; for she was barren; and the LORD allowed Himself to be persuaded by him, so that Rebekah, his wife, became pregnant.
It was promised to Abraham that the line of descendants would run through Isaac (Gen. 21:12, Rom. 9:7, Heb. 11:18). God was therefore not swayed by a different thought here. Isaac’s prayer fits into His plan.
Isaiah 19
22 And the LORD will strike the Egyptians bravely, and heal them; and they will turn to the LORD, and He will let Himself be entreated by them, and He will heal them.
Here it is foretold that YAHWEH will let Himself be entreated. Here, too, therefore, no other plans being changed by prayer, but the prayer of the Egyptians fitting into His plan.
God knows the future
All this is fully in accordance with countless Scripture passages that speak of a God who holds everything in His hand. He is the One who knows the future. God is the GOD, namely the One who places everything and gives everything a place in His mighty plan.
Isaiah 46
10 Who declares the end from the beginning, and from of old those things that have not yet happened; Who says: My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure.