Free will versus predestination

In the closing section of chapter 10 of The Harbinger by Jonathan Cahn, the main character, Nouriel, is having an exchange with a prophet:

"So a prophet can change the plan...the appointed plan?"

"Who said the plan was changed?"

"But I was the one who came up with the idea."

"And how do you know that your coming up with the idea to change the plan wasn't the appointed plan in the first place?"

"If it was a change of plan...then it wasn't appointed."'

"And if it was appointed," he replied, "then it wasn't a change of plan."

"So you're saying you planned to continue here all along...before I mentioned it?"

"Whether I planned it or whether it happened because it was planned without my planning it makes no difference."

"I think you're just saying all this."

"And you're free to think that," he replied.

"So I'm free to think that. I don't have to think that."

"But that doesn't mean it wasn't planned," he added.

"How could it be both," I asked.

"It takes two oars to make a boat go straight."

"Meaning it's both free will and predestination?"

"Meaning you need to use both oars and focus on keeping the boat straight, so we can make it back to dry land."