Oidipous does not hesitate to admit that he wishes to see Apollo fail; he is rooting for a god to be humiliated, and he does not find this to be the least cause of concern. Oidipous’s explanation invites two interpretations: he avoided home because he trembled to think that he might realize the terrible prophecy pertaining to his parents, and what he really fears is Phoibos emerging into the open as an actor in his life. These two interpretations are not far apart; if he manages the realization of his various prophecies, Apollo shows himself to be an active participant in mortal affairs. Combination of the express fear of incest and parricide with the suggested fear of divine intervention suggests that only by putting aside his fear of divine intervention might Oidipous have hoped to find a solution to the threat of parricide and incest. Divine intervention is not something that mortals can choose to accept or reject; it is therefore neither to be feared nor hoped for. The gods are not instruments for mortal use. It is the gods, rather, who may make mortals into instruments for use in their projects, which aim, however, at mortal wellbeing. [Md] [Apa] [Dnc] [Mw]