In biblical terms, the concept of "avert" often relates to the idea of turning away or preventing something undesirable, such as sin, disaster, or divine wrath. The Bible provides numerous instances where individuals or nations are called to avert negative outcomes through repentance, obedience, and prayer.

Averting Sin and Temptation

The Bible frequently addresses the need to avert sin and temptation. In the New Testament, believers are encouraged to resist the devil and flee from sin. James 4:7 states, "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." This verse underscores the importance of submission to God as a means to avert the influence of evil.

In the Old Testament, Joseph provides a notable example of averting sin. When tempted by Potiphar's wife, Joseph refuses her advances, saying, "How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?" (Genesis 39:9). His decision to flee from temptation exemplifies the proactive steps one can take to avert sin.

Averting Divine Wrath

The Bible also speaks of averting divine wrath through repentance and intercession. The account of Nineveh in the book of Jonah illustrates this principle. When Jonah finally delivers God's message of impending judgment, the people of Nineveh believe God, declare a fast, and put on sackcloth. As a result, "God saw their actions—that they had turned from their evil ways. So God relented from the disaster He had threatened to bring upon them" (Jonah 3:10). This narrative highlights the power of collective repentance in averting divine judgment.

Similarly, in 2 Chronicles 7:14 , God promises Solomon, "if My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land." This verse emphasizes the conditional nature of God's mercy, contingent upon the people's willingness to turn from their sins.

Averting Disaster through Prayer

Prayer is another significant means of averting disaster in the Bible. The intercessory prayers of the righteous are depicted as powerful and effective. In the book of Exodus, Moses intercedes for the Israelites after they sin by worshiping the golden calf. Moses pleads with God to spare them, and "the LORD relented from the calamity He had threatened to bring on His people" (Exodus 32:14). This account demonstrates the potential of prayer to change the course of events.

In the New Testament, the early church is seen praying fervently for Peter's release from prison. Acts 12:5 notes, "So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was fervently praying to God for him." Their prayers are answered, and Peter is miraculously freed, illustrating the power of communal prayer in averting dire situations.

Averting Personal and National Calamity

The Bible also addresses the averting of personal and national calamity through wisdom and obedience. Proverbs 22:3 states, "The prudent see danger and take cover, but the simple keep going and suffer the consequences." This proverb highlights the importance of foresight and wise decision-making in avoiding personal harm.

On a national level, the account of King Hezekiah in 2 Kings 19 demonstrates how seeking God's guidance can avert disaster. Faced with the threat of the Assyrian army, Hezekiah prays for deliverance, and God responds by sending an angel to destroy the Assyrian forces, thus saving Jerusalem.

In summary, the biblical concept of averting encompasses a range of actions, including resisting temptation, repenting from sin, interceding through prayer, and exercising wisdom. These actions are portrayed as effective means of preventing negative outcomes and aligning with God's will.1. (v.) To turn aside, or away; as, to avert the eyes from an object; to ward off, or prevent, the occurrence or effects of; as, how can the danger be averted? To avert his ire.

2. (v. i.) To turn away.

3911. paraphero -- to bring to, to carry away
... From para and phero (including its alternate forms); to bear along or aside, ie
Carry off (literally or figuratively); by implication, to avert -- remove, take ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3911.htm - 7k

3928. parerchomai -- to pass by, to come to
... From para and erchomai; to come near or aside, ie To approach (arrive), go by (or
away), (figuratively) perish or neglect, (causative) avert -- come (forth), go ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3928.htm - 8k

5674a. abar -- to pass over, through, or by, pass on
... root Definition to pass over, through, or by, pass on NASB Word Usage accompanied
(1), alienate (1), all* (1), avert (1), beyond* (1), blows away (1), bring (2 ...
/hebrew/5674a.htm - 7k

After the War.
... and southern memberships in the same fellowship was the Old-School Presbyterian
Church; and no national sect had made larger concessions to avert a breach of ...
/.../bacon/a history of american christianity/chapter xx after the war.htm

The Idol which Shed Tears.
... She had been worshipped to avert cholera, and now the worshippers were taking the
idol to throw it into the tank, as the last act of their devotional ceremony. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/hodson/old daniel/chapter ten the idol which.htm

Seventh Tractate. How the Multiplicity of the Ideal-Forms came ...
... first and that, these perishing in the absence of the senses, the maker at last
supplied the means by which men and other living beings might avert disaster. ...
/.../plotinus/the six enneads/seventh tractate how the multiplicity.htm

Admitting that all These Things which do the Immortal Gods ...
... The famous king Numa, not knowing how to avert evil portended by thunder, and being
eager to learn, by advice of Egeria concealed beside a fountain twelve ...
/.../the seven books of arnobius against the heathen/1 admitting that all these.htm

Faith of Sinners in Prayer
... visitations of evil upon them for their iniquities, they showed their faith in prayer
by appealing to the men who prayed, to beg God to avert His displeasure ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/bounds/prayer and praying men/xi faith of sinners in.htm

The Time of Trouble
... Yet he leaves nothing undone on his own part to atone for the wrong to
his brother and to avert the threatened danger. So should ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the great controversy/chapter 39 the time of.htm

"The Time of Trouble. "
... Yet he leaves nothing undone on his own part to atone for the wrong to
his brother, and to avert the threatened danger. So should ...
/.../the great controversy between christ and satan /39 the time of trouble.htm

David's Strength
... superstitious man of any creed or time, he would have said so, and cried, I have
offended God; he is offended and angry with me, how shall I avert his wrath? ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/david/sermon ii davids strength.htm

Letter ccxxviii. (AD 428 or 429. )
... God is powerful to hear the prayers of His children and to avert those things which
they fear; and we ought not, on account of evils that are uncertain, to ...
/.../augustine/the confessions and letters of st/letter ccxxviii a d 428 or.htm

Josiah and the Newly Found Law
... than a momentary arrest of the strong tide running in the opposite direction; and
Josiah's was too near the edge of the cataract to last, or to avert the plunge ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/josiah and the newly found.htm

Avert (2 Occurrences)
... 1. (v.) To turn aside, or away; as, to avert the eyes from an object; to ward off,
or prevent, the occurrence or effects of; as, how can the danger be averted? ...
/a/avert.htm - 7k

Averted (5 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (imp. & pp) of Avert. 2. (a.) Turned away, esp.
as an expression of feeling; also, offended; unpropitious. ...
/a/averted.htm - 8k

Esther (48 Occurrences)
... That she was raised up as an instrument in the hand of God to avert the destruction
of the Jewish people, and to afford them protection and forward their ...
/e/esther.htm - 58k

Forgiveness (124 Occurrences)
... This passing over of sins had the tendency of destroying man's conception of God's
righteousness, and in order to avert this Christ was set forth as a ...
/f/forgiveness.htm - 68k

Deprecate (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (vt) To pray or hope against, as an evil; to seek to avert
by prayer; to desire the removal of; to seek deliverance from; to express ...
/d/deprecate.htm - 7k

Baal-zebub (4 Occurrences)
... This name was given to the god because he was supposed to be able to avert
the plague of flies which in that region was to be feared. ...
/b/baal-zebub.htm - 8k

Benammi (1 Occurrence)
... two daughters, perished. In order to avert the extinction of the race, his
daughters resorted to incestuous practices. In this case ...
/b/benammi.htm - 9k

Ben-ammi (1 Occurrence)
... two daughters, perished. In order to avert the extinction of the race, his
daughters resorted to incestuous practices. In this case ...
/b/ben-ammi.htm - 9k

Baalzebub (4 Occurrences)
... This name was given to the god because he was supposed to be able to avert
the plague of flies which in that region was to be feared. ...
/b/baalzebub.htm - 9k

Averse (2 Occurrences)

/a/averse.htm - 7k

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