It is marvelous, yet sobering that God invites us to partner with Him and to contend for what He intends. Prophetic fulfillment can be conditioned on human response. Daniel is an example of this. Understanding from Jeremiah’s prophecy that seventy years was to be the length of the captivity of God’s people (Jer. 25:12; 29:10), Daniel humbled himself to partner in intercessory prayer with this prophecy.
So Daniel writes that “while I was speaking, praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God,” the angel Gabriel was sent to release God’s redemptive purpose for His people (Dan. 9:20–23). Thus, Israel’s return to the Promised Land took place as promised through the prophet Jeremiah.
What if Daniel had not prayed? What if God had found no one to “stand in the gap” (Ezek. 20:30, 31)? Will you be one who partners with God’s promises to see the fulfillment of His saving purposes for your generation?
