Growing up, I always thought God was so mighty that He didn’t have time to come near us. He is King of all kings so I always imagined him to be sitting all day long on a golden throne. I believed in Him but to my mind, I could only speak to Him when I die and meet Him face to face.
I also thought that God was so powerful that if He didn’t like what we did, He would punish us right away. I read stories in the Old Testament and could only shake my head when I read how God wiped out a country, a tribe, and even the king and his family. No one was spared from God’s wrath. And once He moved to destroy, nothing could change His mind. Because He is God!
So is He capable of changing His mind? I say yes because it happened when God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac. After he bound his son on the altar, the angel of God stopped him at the last minute, saying “now I know you fear God.” God changes His mind for anyone who obeys Him wholeheartedly.
I can only cite that story. But last Wednesday night, during my Bible reading, I came across the second book of Kings and learned a second story about God changing His mind.
King Hezekiah of Judah became mortally ill. The prophet at that time was Isaiah. One day, Isaiah told King Hezekiah this message from God: “Set your house in order, for you shall die and not live.” After hearing about his death, Hezekiah turned his face to the wall, and cried out, “Remember now, O Lord, I beseech you, remember how I have walked before you in truth and with a whole heart, and how I have done what is pleasing before you.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly.
Before Isaiah had gone out of the middle court, the word of God came to him, saying, “Return and say to Hezekiah the leader of My people, ‘I have heard your prayer, and I have seen your tears. Behold I have healed you. On the third day, you shall ascend to the temple of the Lord. And I will add 15 years to your life, and I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will protect this city for My own sake and for the sake of My servant David.”
After reading this, I paused, and shook my head. Wow! God can really change His mind after all.
This is an example of God listening to the prayer of someone and then changing His course of action.
God knows all things. He knows our yesterday, today and tomorrow. He knows what’s in our mind and heart even before we say it. So should we still pray? Yes!
Prayers are part of His plan that brings about what will ultimately happen. So even if God has already planned something for us tomorrow, He can change His mind IF we pray hard.
We are not robots, and God is not inflexible. God hears our prayers and responds especially when we plead our case hard before Him with all our heart. This is exactly what Hezekiah did.
God is not sleeping on our prayers. Gary Valenciano’s song “Natutulog Ba ang Diyos,” says in part, “Huwag mo sanang akalain natutulog ba ang Diyos/ Ang buhay mo ay mayro’ng halaga sa kanya.” Don’t think God is sleeping/ Your life has a great value for Him.
The only condition that softens God’s heart to change His mind and answer our prayers is that we love and obey Him.
Romans 8:28 says: “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
God made us for a purpose and if we are able to follow His plan and love Him, God can always make things work for good. Hezekiah who lived a life dependent on God was saved from sickness and eventual death!
I thanked God for leading me to read about Hezekiah. Honestly, I thought I know the Holy Bible well, but Hezekiah’s story came fresh to me. I don’t think I remembered reading about his life.
It gave me hope that some bad things can really turn good by God’s will. It made me love God more and be awed by His awesome power because He really can move miracles to help us. Lastly, I am humbled. God, with all his majesty and power shows us that He need not stick to His plans but can actually change His mind. So, why can’t some people in authority and power bend down and change their plans to bring good things to those who need them?
I pray that we look up to God to be more humble and sensitive to the needs of people who come to us for help. Remember that one day, all of us will be equal before God’s eyes. So if you have to change your mind for the good of others, do it.