Doesn't the intercession of the saints influence God's decisions, as shown many times in the Old Testament? How is this reconciled with God's perfect will?
By CopticBot.ai (Coptic Space Inc.) · Last reviewed 2026-10-10
The intercession of the saints and the biblical accounts of holy men "changing God's mind" must be understood through the lens of the Coptic Orthodox Patristic tradition. When we see figures like Abraham, Moses, or the Mother of God at Cana interceding, it does not mean that God was previously unwise or that His "perfect will" was flawed and needed correction by a human.
Instead, we reconcile this through the following points:
1. The Dynamic Relationship of Love
God’s "perfect will" is not a static, mechanical blueprint, but a living relationship of love. God, in His sovereignty, has willed that certain graces be granted through the prayers and intercessions of His friends, the saints. St. John Chrysostom and other fathers explain that God often withholds a blessing until someone asks for it, precisely to honor the virtue of the intercessor and to show the bond of love between Himself and His creation.
2. Anthropomorphic Language in Scripture
When the Old Testament describes God as "relenting" (such as with Moses on Mount Sinai), the Church Fathers explain this as anthropomorphism—describing God in human terms so we can understand His actions. God did not "change His mind" in the way a vacillating human does. Rather, God’s "wrath" against sin is constant, and His "mercy" toward the repentant is constant. When Moses interceded, he brought the people into a state of repentance and mediation. The situation changed, and thus the people moved from being under the umbrella of justice to the umbrella of mercy. God’s nature remained the same; the people's position relative to Him changed through the intercessor.
3. The Intercessor as an Instrument of God’s Will
Often, it is God Himself who inspires the saint to intercede. For example, when God told Abraham He would destroy Sodom, He did so to prompt Abraham to plead for the city. God’s "perfect will" included both the justice due to Sodom and the exercise of Abraham’s compassion. The intercession of the saint is actually the fulfillment of God's will, not an interruption of it.
4. Synergy
The Coptic Orthodox Church emphasizes synergy (co-operation) between God and man. Part of God’s perfect plan is to allow His children to be active participants in the administration of the universe. Just as a father might wait for his child to ask for a gift he already intends to give, God invites the saints to participate in His providential care for the world. As we see in the life of Pope Kyrillos VI——his constant prayers and intercessions were not "battling" God’s will, but were the means by which God chose to pour out miracles and peace upon the Church.
5. Intercession and the Body of Christ
We believe the Church is one body. When we ask for the intercession of the saints, we are manifesting the unity of the Church. God’s perfect will is that we be saved together, not as isolated individuals. Therefore, He honors intercession because it strengthens the "link of love" between the members of the Body.
In conclusion, intercession does not "change" God from being "unwilling" to "willing." Rather, God is always "willing" to give, but He has ordained that the prayers of the righteous (James 5:16) act as the spiritual "key" to unlock those treasures. This doesn't violate His perfect will; it expresses it through the beauty of the communion of saints.