Intercede!

Unlike the portraits of the other gods in these apotropaic intercessory texts, YHWH is often shown as making room for human responses to his plans before enacting them. Texts 5, 6, 13, 14, and 15 show YHWH as secretly or not-so-secretly inviting intercession, or at least pausing before acting in expectation of a response. In Gen 18:17-22, YHWH explicitly awaits Abraham’s response, and in 1 Chr 21:15, he stays the angel’s hand, giving time for David to intercede. Less obvious are the phrases “Leave me be” and “Leave me alone,” in Exod 32:10 and Deut 9:14. As we have seen in Sections 4.2.2.2 and 4.2.6.2, however, these seeming rejections actually serve as “backhanded” invitations for intercession. Although YHWH does not always accede to human desires, he does so often enough—and thoroughly enough—to show that he attends to such protest. As Patrick D. Miller notes, YHWH must be affected by intercession to some degree, or he would not bother prohibiting it on occasion (see, e.g., Jer 7:16; 11:14; 14:11-12).—Forestalling Doom page 231

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Fascinating idea, isn't it? God wants us to intercede! May we rise to the challenge!
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