The passage that I'm referring to specifically is:
%26quot;And the Lord repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people.%26quot; - Exodus 32:14
though I'm sure there are other examples. Some Christians have said, in a previous question I asked, that God does not change his mind, because he knows everything and is perfect and has it all worked out beforehand. So, what's the deal?
What's with God changing his mind in the Bible?
The answer is Batman. Several actors have played Batman in the movies for years without explanation. We must simply accept that God can change like Batman.
What's with God changing his mind in the Bible?
Question: %26quot;Does God change His mind?%26quot;
Answer: Malachi 3:6 declares, “I the LORD do not change. So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed.” Similarly, James 1:17 tells us, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” The meaning of Numbers 23:19 could not be more clear, “God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should change His mind. Does He speak and then not act? Does He promise and not fulfill?” No, God does not change His mind. These verses assert that God is unchanging, and unchangeable.
However, this appears to contradict what is taught in other verses, such as Genesis 6:6, “The LORD was grieved that He had made man on the earth, and His heart was filled with pain.” Also, Jonah 3:10 which says, “When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, He had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction He had threatened.” Similarly, Exodus 32:14 proclaims, “Then the LORD relented and did not bring on His people the disaster He had threatened.” These verses speak of the Lord “repenting” of something, and seem to be contrary to verses that teach that God is unchanging. However, close examination of these passages reveals that these are not truly indications that God is capable of changing. In the original language, the word that is translated as “repent,” or “relent,” is the Hebrew expression of “to be sorry for.” Being sorry for something does not mean that a change has occurred; it simply means that there is regret for something that has taken place.
Consider in Genesis 6:6 that “…The LORD was grieved that He had made man on the earth.” This verse even goes on to say “…His heart was filled with pain.” This verse declares that God had regret for creating man. However, obviously He did not reverse His decision. Instead, through Noah, He allowed man to continue to exist. The fact that we are alive today is living proof that God did not change His mind about creating man. Also, the context of this passage is a description of the sinful state man was living in, and it is man’s sinfulness that triggered God’s sorrow, not man’s existence. Consider what Jonah 3:10 says: “…He had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction He had threatened.” Again, the same Hebrew word is used here, which expresses “to be sorry for.” Why was God “sorry” for what He had planned for the Ninevites? Because they had a change in heart, and as a result, changed their ways from disobedience to obedience. God is entirely consistent. God was going to judge Nineveh because of its evil. However, Nineveh repented and changed its ways. As a result, God had mercy on Nineveh, which is entirely consistent with His character.
Romans 3:23 teaches us that all men sin, and fall short of God’s standard. Romans 6:23 states that the consequence for this is death (spiritual and physical). So, the people of Nineveh were deserving of punishment. All of us face this same situation, as it is man’s choice to sin that separates us all from God. Man cannot hold God responsible for his own predicament. So it would be contrary to the character of God to not punish the Ninevites had they continued in sin. However, the people of Nineveh turned to obedience, and for that the Lord chose not to punish them as He had originally intended. Did the change on the part of the Ninevites obligate God to do what he did? Absolutely not! God cannot be placed in a position of obligation to man. God is good and righteous, and chose not to punish the Ninevites as a result of their change of heart. If anything, what this passage does is point to the fact that God does not change, because had the Lord not preserved the Ninevites, this would be contrary to the character of God.
The Scriptures that describe God apparently “changing His mind” are human attempts to explain the actions of God. God was going to do something, but instead did something else. To us, that sounds like a change. But to God, who is omniscient and sovereign, it is not a change. God always knew what He was going to do. God also knew what He needed to do to cause humanity to do what He wanted them to do. God threatened Nineveh with destruction, knowing that it would cause Nineveh to repent. God threatened Israel with destruction, knowing that Moses would intercede. God does not regret His decisions, but is saddened by some of what humanity does in response to His decisions. God does not change His mind, but rather acts consistently to His Word in response to our actions.
Recommended Resource: Knowing God by J.I. Packer.
I would have to read the hole in order to explain it to you.
Though I read the bible I don't remember everything I read.
Edit: Ok I read what you stated and all the way to the begging of exodus 32 and It is Moses asking God basically to show mercy and to withdraw from his wrath against Israel and God chose to withdraw his wrath because of what mosses said.
In the dictionary the word ( repented has 3 definitions.
Repented: 1. to feel remorse 2. to feel regret 3. to make a change for the better.
I believe God was making a change for the better.
God wasn't necessarily changing his mind but accepting mosses request.
First of all, the use of the term %26quot;repented%26quot; in this case, just as in the case of viewing the state of humanity before sending the Great Flood, could be a figure of speech. God doesn't do anything wrong, so he doesn't need to repent. Of course, I wouldn't blame him if sometimes the thought crosses his mind, %26quot;Why on earth did I create human beings?%26quot;
And why can't God change his mind? Why shouldn't he be free to prescribe new modes of worship, pick the day he likes most of his worship to occur on, or give us new instructions and advice? I would not love him as much if I thought that he would not do what he thought was best for his children and adapt his approach (slightly) from time to time to fit the situation.
Delusion - a fixed false belief that is resistant to reason or confrontation with actual fact.
The key thing in understanding whether or not God can change His mind has to do with His character. In Num. 23:19 where He says:
God is not a man, that he should lie,
nor a son of man, that he should change his mind.
Does he speak and then not act?
Does he promise and not fulfill?
You will notice that God is comparing Himself to the human trait of lying and not keeping of promises. Thus, God does not change His mind like the whimsy or dishonesty of men - those are self-centered actions and in God's case, would betray His character if He acted like that. Who could know God under these circumstances? We can't even really know each other fully because we never can absolutely claim to always act consistently with our character.
However, in the places where we see God %26quot;repenting%26quot; or, changing His mind, He is not doing it according to a whim, or dishonesty, but it is changed according to His character and eternal principles.
When He changed His mind towards the people of Israel in the wilderness, or with regards to the Ninevites in Jonah, He did it according to His principle that if you sin, the result is death. If you come to God in faith and repentance, there is forgiveness.
If you accept the premise that God has already pre-ordained everything, then understanding God having a change of mind because of the action of people will be hard to accept and you have to skirt the issue. God's actions become inexplainable and instead, you have to create a theological mystery.
If you accept the premise that God has pre-ordained some things but gives mankind a sphere of freedom to choose, act, and make decisions, then God changing His mind in response to human action is easy to accept. I find this position much more illuminating as it fits the Biblical narrative without creating unnecessary theological complications.
Remember, when we come to God in faith, God changes His mind towards us. We no longer are strangers to Him but become children and heirs.
