Does God Answer Prayer?

by 13 Bible Characters

To help us answer this question, we’ve assembled a panel of 13 from the Bible. Let’s ask each one of them if God answers prayer.

Moses: Yes, He does. In fact, one time I asked God to forgive the sins of my people, and He did (Numbers 14:19-20).

Hannah: Yes. I prayed to God for a male child and He gave me one (1 Samuel 1:8-27).

Hezekiah: Certainly. When I was about to die, I prayed to God and He added 15 years to my life (2 Kings 20:1-6).

Jabez: He sure does. I made several requests to God, and He granted them all (1 Chronicles 4:10).

The tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh: We know He does, because one time, when we were fighting against the Hagrites, God delivered them into our hands. He did this because we cried out to Him and put our trust in Him (1 Chronicles 5:18-20).

Manasseh: Yes. Even though I had lived wickedly, when I humbled myself and turned back to God, he heard my prayer and brought me back to Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 33:10-13).

The Israelites who returned to Jerusalem with Ezra: Without an armed escort to lead us to Jerusalem, we asked God to show us the right way and protect us, and guess what: He did! (Ezra 8:21-23).

David: You want to know why I love God. For many reasons, but one is that He hears and answers my prayers (Psalms 116:1-2).

Amos: I agree with all the others on the panel. Twice I asked God to relent concerning the harm He was going to do to Israel, and He granted my request (Amos 7:1-6).

Jonah: You all know about the time I spent in the belly of the great fish. I was there because I had disobeyed God. But when I humbled myself and repented, God answered my prayer from the belly of the whale (Jonah 2:1-10).

Zacharias: I can relate to what Hannah has already said. I asked God for a child, and He gave me a fine one in John the Baptist (Luke 1:13).

Elijah: Have you read James 5:16-18? I am used as an example of how the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much (James 5:16-18).

Jesus: I think you all know what I’m going to say. I prayed to My Father on my occasions, and He answered my prayers.