In this journal entry, I was writing about the Trump v. Biden race, asking for God's will.
[Sorry about the sudden italics. I cannot get it to be regular text, for some reason. ((chuckle))]
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...maybe my prayer boils down to how many people will turn to You under one leader compared to under the other. Whichever one would stir Your people to move closer to You and will cause unbelievers to turn to You...

I pray that as I'm reading an online commentary about Exodus 32:11-13 and Numbers 14:13-19 and how that is praying within and according to God's will. I'm reading this because it was mentioned on the video (toward the start; I haven't gotten very far yet ((smile))).

Interestingly, one of Samuel's questions at Sabbath School a couple days ago was: "Can we change God's mind?"

The commentary I'm reading is by Dr. Ralph F. Wilson --
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"God tells Moses that He will destroy the nation of Israel, and reconstruct the nation from Moses' own offspring. Since Moses himself is a direct descendent of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, God's promises to the patriarchs would be fulfilled. God had destroyed mankind once and restored it with Noah and his descendants (Genesis 6-8); Moses has every reason to believe that God is quite serious.

"Moses' intercession is a clear example of someone who has taken God's interests into his heart as his own. Even though in a way Moses' own family would benefit from God's proposal as the New Patriarchs, Moses appeals to God, boldly interceding for the people of Israel, pleading for mercy rather than condemnation upon them. And in the end, God relents and responds positively to Moses' prayer. We'll consider the theological implications of this shortly. But first I want to analyze Moses' argument before God. Since the prayers in Exodus 32 and Numbers 14 are similar, I'm showing them in parallel so you can see the similarities.

"Ex. 32:11 -- Israelites are God's own people.
"Ex. 32:12a -- God's name and reputation/ Num. 14:13-16 -- God's reputation.
"Ex. 32:12b -- Basic prayer.
"Ex. 32:13 -- God's promises to patriarchs.
"Num. 14:17-19a -- Appeal to God's character of mercy.
"Num. 14:19b -- Appeal to God's precedents.

"When I read Moses' intercession, it makes me think of a Prime Minister appealing to the king to alter his decree so that it is in keeping with the concerns of foreign relations, previous treaties, the king's character, and previous decrees. Notice the basis of Moses' appeals:
* Because the Israelites are God's own people.
* Because of God's reputation among the heathen.
* Because of God's promises.
* Because of God's character.
* Because of God's consistent mercy."
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I think now of a Scripture passage that [friend] often partially quotes, "...Come, let us reason together."

This isn't the subject God is saying to come and reason about, but it does show God's willingness to reason with us, to brainstorm together over something. It makes me think of how a parent must start with the child that they MUST obey so that they stay safe or are nice to others. But, later on in their childhood, the parent (at least Dad with me) can start explaining why, can start reasoning with the child. And, there's a chance that the child thinks in such a way that the parent is persuaded to change his mind on it -- perhaps this once, or perhaps for this particular child.

More from commentary:
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"As we study the great prayers of the Bible, we begin to see a pattern where intercessors state their case before God based on His promises, character, righteousness, and precedents. When we learn to pray this way, we begin to learn to pray according to the will of God rather than contrary to it. When we support our prayers with appeals to Scripture, we align ourselves with God's will. Part of learning to pray is praying Scripture back to God."

[Lots of writing about predestination, foreknowledge, and free will not included here.]

"I know we really don't understand predestination, no matter how much we might argue for or against it. But what we must understand is that Moses' prayer -- and your prayers -- can affect God's action.

"When it comes to you and your prayers, you must act as if everything is not predetermined. You must believe that your prayers can change God's mind and action. If you don't, you won't be able to pray like Moses or Abraham or Elijah, but only a passive, 'Thy will be done.' Certainly, Jesus prayed that prayer, but only after wrestling in prayer as did Moses. We don't believe in the power of prayer, so we pray wimpy prayers.

"Many centuries after Moses, James tells us: 'The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much' (KJV, James 5:16b) or 'The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective' (NIV). Either we believe it and will act on it, or we are passive and unbelieving in our prayers..."

"Again and again in the Bible, we see men and women of God wrestling in prayer with God until they receive the answer they seek. By their examples littering the pages of the Book, I conclude that God wants us to pray with the same faith, fervency, and fortitude.

"...While some verses that use nacham seem to indicate God's changing His mind on an arbitrary basis, in many places it is clear that the change is due to changed circumstances. A.J. Heschel has said, 'No word is God's final word. Judgment, far from being absolute, is conditional. A change in man's conduct brings about a change in God's judgment.'"

[He points to 1 Samuel 15:29, 1 Samuel 15:11, and Jeremiah 18:7-10. He goes on to say...]

"God's character, holiness, and purpose do not change. Cole observes, 'In the Bible, it is clear that God's promises and warnings are always conditional on man's response,' as in Ezekiel 33:13-16. One of those responses is prayer and intercession."
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I think of a good earthly judge who weighs his decisions based on the circumstances and the changes he sees. Look at the story of Solomon and the contested baby. Because God knows our perspectives on fairness -- which are a gift from Him and understanding from His heart and thoughts -- He knows we watch and have opinions on what happens. The relationship and the basis of trust in Him depends on our honest and fair-to-Him assessment of how "fair" we think He is being. He, I think, doesn't relent when a spoiled or "unfamiliar with Him" complaint goes up but, rather, only after His own child (beloved one) comes to Him and reasons it out with Him, as does a friend with a friend or a youth with her dear parent who has dealt who has dealt with her, in history, with a fair and loving hand.

More from commentary:
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"Victor Hamilton concludes, 'The fact that the Old Testament affirms that God does repent, even over a fait accompli [accomplished fact] forces us to make room in our theology for the concepts of both the unchangeability of God and His changeability.' The doctrine of God's immutability does not restrict God's action. It means that God's character, desire, and purpose do not change.

"When you carry a strong deterministic bent down to the minute-by-minute level, then God has an opinion about whether you brush your teeth at 9pm rather than 10pm. Or your brand of toothpaste. You should seek God's will about whether or not to wash your hands two times during an afternoon or three. I see this as way overdone.

"...A river may be broad, but there are definite banks which determine how widely it can flow. I see God's will as boundaries within which we are free to live and pray.

"In Moses' case, both alternatives were within God's will: (A) Destroying Israel and raising up a new nation through Moses, and, (B) Preserving and pardoning the nation while chastising it. Moses didn't ask God to do something that was clearly out of His will, but to select another choice which was entirely consistent with God's revealed will and character. In Moses' mind, Plan B was preferable to Plan A, and he argued eloquently before God for Plan B.

"We are commanded in Hebrews: 'Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.' (Hebrews 4:16)

"Was God pleased with Moses? Oh, yes! Because Moses had learned to pray with God's kingdom at heart. Moses' prayer was guided by references to God's character, God's reputation, God's precedents, God's best interests. What a joy for God to hear that prayer! No wonder He answers Moses positively.

"What is God doing in teaching us to pray? He is seeking to raise a generation of sons and daughters who have in their heart the good of the family business -- that is, the Kingdom of God. When we learn to pray like Moses, we no longer seek our own good, but God's good, God's interests, God's Kingdom. By prayer, we grapple with the issues that affect the Kingdom here on earth. As we pray, our minds are aligned with His will and our petitions and our intercessions are met with clear answers."
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I think of the prayers between [cousin] and I, emailed back and forth as well as on paper from me, when she was in the rehab hospital. We hashed out the pros and cons of her being healed this side of Heaven, based on what it would do in His Kingdom. What would unbelievers think, both those also affected by ALS and those who are not? What would believers think?

I really think Holy Spirit was there in the conversation as we talked about what would happen and why He may or may not heal her. The main focus was His will and how healing or non-healing would affect our corner of His Kingdom.

I often feel terribly guilty that I didn't touch her right ear, right thumb, and right big toe while praying over her. What if that would have persuaded God to heal her? What if it hadn't? I'll not know either way. Did I disobey by not proceeding with faith and being forward? I don't know. Was her death my punishment and hers? I don't think so. I maybe lacked boldness, but God could have brought someone else in with more boldness, if He needed her to be healed...or He could have healed her regardless, without human faith or boldness. I have faith in that about Him. Was there a lesson for [cousin] in all that we exchanged about it? For me? For whoever read my letters to her? For her husband? For her sisters?

Because they grew up thinking no healing meant you weren't doing something right or not praying "hard enough" or "not enough," was this a statement to all survivors that 'God giveth and God taketh away...blessed be the name of the LORD?' I remember that Scripture was the first thing out of the mouth of Michelle Duggar when they lost their baby. She said it with tears and gentleness, but with intact love for our LORD. It was miraculous and beautiful to watch. I doubt I'm the only one struck by that.

Maybe our family's steadfast faith in God that remained...the lack of bitterness about her death, about her awful illness itself...was a testimony to onlookers. Maybe that was a furtherance of Your Kingdom, Abba. The grace with which she faced her illness and death...the faith she had all along that she could be healed, yet the love for You staying there and increasing even when You didn't...the joy she had in the face of all the discomfort and indifference/apathy...the forgiveness...the overflowing, motherly love she dealt out freely in nearly every painstaking communication with the eye-gazing software...that was beautiful, Father. And, what a witness! I can and have testified to that to so many since and even during. She was Your child, and I'm thankful for that and that she was in my life. Thank You so much for a dear sister in Christ and for the intimate times we had together with You.

[More from Dr. Ralph F. Wilson in the comments.]

[Interestingly, the Scripture printed on the journal page is Jude 1:2 TLB: "May you be given more and more of God's kindness, peace, and love." I get such a kick out of when the printed Scripture matches what I'm writing on the page.]
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Because Paul Wilbur keeps saying it at the end of all his videos, I got intrigued about the blessing of the people in Numbers. Since we are to be a "kingdom of priests," I decided I'd do well to memorize it. This is it by memory:
"The LORD bless you and keep you.
The LORD make His face shine on you and be gracious to you.
The LORD turn His face toward you and give you peace."

This is the version directly transcribed from RSV:
"The LORD said to Moses, 'Say to Aaron and his sons, "Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them,
'The LORD bless you and keep you:
The LORD make His face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you:
The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.'
'So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them.'" (Num. 6:22-27)

I think I like this RSV version better because it talks about His face AND His countenance, which mean different things to me.

When He turns His face to me, He is pleased with me and sees me. Lifting up His countenance upon me is a greater step where He not only faces me and sees me, He shines His Light upon me and His glow/glory not only brings me peace but also shines on my own face so that others might see His glory through me. May the glow like Moses' face as he descended from Mt. Sinai be bold from my face and others turn to and be drawn to Him because of it.

When it was first recorded for Facebook, I was excited about learning more about Jesus; so, this series by Pastor Lee and Marji Venden caught my attention -- All About Jesus. The first video on Facebook has an interesting poem after the children's story.

One can find another set of recordings of the "All About Jesus" Seminar on YouTube, too, starting with this one. It is from the Adventist Church, but Pastor Venden's use of Ellen White quotes are minimal and logical. I'll write more about my perspectives on SDA in a separate entry.

Meanwhile, here are some of my notes from my 10-15-2020 journal entry:

I'm currently listening to him explaining the "3 Legs of the Stool" concept. This is the "Relationship with Jesus Stool."

* 1st Leg = Bible Study. Get to know Jesus better by studying the Bible.
* 2nd Leg = Prayer. Prayer is for the purpose of communion with our Friend, Jesus. The #1 ingredient in all relationships is communication. "This is NOT a monologue."
* 3rd Leg = Share. Share with others what you've learned via the other two stool legs. What is spilling over that you must bubble out to others?

Nurturing and maintaining our relationship with Jesus depends on this stool. <3

[Friend] sent us a write-up tonight that quoted part of Isaiah 58, but I read the whole chapter and love the promises God makes if we love one another and love Him, starting with verse 8 (NIV): "Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and He will say: 'Here am I.'
"If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. The LORD will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.
"If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on my holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight and the LORD's holy day honorable, and if you honor it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words, then you will find your joy in the LORD, and I will cause you to ride in triumph on the heights of the land and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob.
"For the mouth of the LORD has spoken."

This makes me think of the verse I read a couple days ago; Ezra, the priest, on the first day of the Festival of Shouts/Trumpets (1st day of the 7th month) was reading the "Book of the Law of Moses that the LORD had commanded Israel" (Nehemiah 8:1). Verse 9-12 are labeled, "This Day is Holy," and say: "And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, 'This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn or weep.' For all the people wept as they heard the words of the Law. Then he said to them. 'Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our LORD. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.' So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, 'Be quiet, for this day is holy; do not be grieved.' And all the people went their way to eat the drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words that were declared to them." (ESV)