Ellen G. White and Her Critics

Further Reasons for Conditional Predictions

The Bible reveals that God’s predictions, through His prophets, are affected not simply by the wicked repenting, or the righteous backsliding, but also by the supplication of a righteous man who is continuing in his righteousness, Here is the inspired record of what the prophet Isaiah forecast for King Hezekiah, and of the reversal of that forecast: EGWC 105.8

“In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live. Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto the Lord, saying, I beseech thee, O Lord, remember now 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. And it came to pass, afore Isaiah was gone out into the middle court, that the word of the Lord came to him, saying, Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the Lord, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee.” 2 Kings 20:1-5. EGWC 106.1

That the free will of man may nullify a prediction is clearly revealed by all experience in the life of David. Here is an instance in which turning from righteousness to wickedness, or vice versa, is not involved, but simply the free operation of a man’s will in the light of a prediction. David, with some loyal warriors, was in the city of Keilah. He heard that Saul was planning to come up against him and trap him in the walled city. David wished to make certain of Saul’s plans and also whether the townsmen of Keilah would deliver him over to Saul. The record declares: EGWC 106.2

“Then said David, O Lord God of Israel, thy servant hath certainly heard that Saul seeketh to come to Keilah, to destroy the city for my sake. Will the men of Keilah deliver me up into his hand? will Saul come down, as thy servant hath heard? O Lord God of Israel, I beseech thee, tell thy servant. And the Lord said, He will come down. Then said David, Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul? And the Lord said, They will deliver thee up.” 1 Samuel 23:10-12. EGWC 106.3

No more unequivocal prediction could have been given to David. But did Saul come down and did the dwellers in Keilah deliver up David? The next verse informs us: EGWC 106.4

“Then David and his men, which were about six hundred, arose and departed out of Keilah, and went whithersoever they could go. And it was told Saul that David was escaped from Keilah; and he forbare to go forth.” Verse 13. EGWC 106.5

The Lord might have said to David, Saul “will come down,” and the people of Keilah “will deliver you up,” provided you do not flee. But the record does not include this “provided.” David simply exercised his free will and fled with his men, hence Saul “forbare to go forth.” EGWC 107.1

We find in this nothing unusual. Why should Saul go down if David had fled? And certainly the people of Keilah could not deliver up David if he had fled. That is obvious! This is another way of saying that the free will of man may cause a divine prediction to be unfulfilled. But none of us find in this fact any reason for doubting divine predictions. EGWC 107.2

The righteous who backslide exercise their free will. The wicked who turn to righteousness exercise their free will. The man who prays, like Hezekiah, exercises his free will—the right of a child of God to petition his Father. The action of man’s free will is the key to unlock the mystery of the conditional quality of divine predictions. Not until men have sinned away their day of grace, and thus closed their probation and their right further to exercise their free will in defiance of God, will the judgments of God descend upon a sinful world to consume it completely. Thus will the ultimate purpose of God be carried out and His sovereign plan and will find full and unhampered expression. EGWC 107.3