Theology Discussion Board

[pastorderrick]

Use an example of the different places in the Bible where it is clearly stated or suggested that God changed His mind concerning something He had done or decided to. Reconcile this with the unchanging nature of God.

Essay should be between 500-600 words while your reply should be at least 200 words.

Paste the same submission from the previous step here by clicking on the REPLY link just above. Your submission should be made on or before Wednesday the 27th of November 2024.

Then scroll down to see your peer submission and click reply to comment on their submissions. You MUST comment on at least one post with a minimum of 200 words on or before 11:59 p.m. (WAT) on Friday the 29th of November 2024. Your comments will also be graded.

[Miriam IfeanyiChukwu]

God is immutable. He does not change, neither does He change His mind (Num. 23:19). However, several Old Testament passages show scenarios where God either changed His mind concerning something He had said He would do or decided to do. An example is seen in Jeremiah 18:8 where the immutable God is suggesting that He could change His mind concerning the disaster He thought to bring on the Israelites if they turned away from their evil ways. “If that nation against whom I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I thought to bring upon it.’’ The word “If” at the beginning of this passage is conditional therefore the verse signifies a divine conditional warning. The response to be gotten was solely dependent on the recipient, it had nothing to do with the nature of God.
From the verse above, God did not change, the people did. God kept His Word. The seeming “changing of God’s mind’’ can be seen as anthropomorphism (a description of God using human characteristics). The change was part of the grand plan and due to mankind’s repentance. The same is true about the case of Jonah and the children of Nineveh (Jonah 3:10) and Moses and the Israelites (Exodus 32:14). God is not schizophrenic. One aspect of His nature is not overemphasized above the other. For example, His justice is not overemphasized above His mercy. Even though God hates sin and has promised to punish sin, He is not consumed by the need to punish sin such that He neglects to show mercy when He sees genuine repentance from sin. God clearly described His nature to Moses at Mount Sinai as merciful and gracious, longsuffering, abounding in goodness and truth, etc. (Exodus 34:6-7). Jonah was so aware of the nature of God that he fled to Tarshish instead of going to Nineveh to preach because he knew that God would respond in His mercy to the people of Nineveh and not bring judgment on them like He had promised if they repented of their sins and turned to Him (Jonah 4:1-3), and God did exactly what Jonah feared He would do.
All the instances that appeared God changed His mind were cases of God relenting regarding bringing punishment upon the people and not a case of God failing to bring about a good or blessing He promised. This is actually in man’s favor. God keeps His promises because He does not change. For every promise God made to man, they are Yes and Amen (2 Cor. 1:20) and He does not change His mind concerning His gifts (Rom. 8:29). Instead of one of God’s promises not to come to pass, scripture says heaven and earth will pass away (Matt. 24:35). This is how committed God is to His Word and how unchangeable God is.
In conclusion, God is Spirit John 4:24 tells us. Therefore, His nature is constant and does not change (James 1:17). For every seeming change of God’s mind, it was from man’s perspective or point of view and not God’s, it was in response to the change of man, it was a change to favor man, it was a change in withholding punishment to the people and it was never a case of God failing to keep His Word concerning a promised He made.

[bright022]

The Bible teaches that God’s nature is immutable, meaning He cannot change (Hebrews 6:17-18, Malachi 3:6, James 1:17). God cannot change, neither can He lie; He says what He means and means what He says. We have to understand the nature of God. He is the good God. There is no evil in God, and there is no situation or circumstances where God will respond to you in evil. So it is an established truth that the nature of God cannot change.

Rather, His responses of goodness and mercy, which are characteristics of His good nature, are what men often confuse as God-changing. God may say something or predict a future that is going to happen, but because of His merciful and good nature, He may respond to a cry of repentance from a man, and that event or situation may not happen as foreseen. This is not because He changed, as it were, but because He responded by His unchanging nature, which is merciful and good to a changing man.

By that, I mean that man is ever-changing. As a result of this, a man may have done something, and there is a consequence of his sin or actions, but if he turns around and asks for mercy genuinely, he is going to get mercy instead of what he deserves.

This alludes to what Henry Thiessen said in his book Lectures in Systematic Theology: “The immutability of God is not to be confused with immobility. God is active and enters into relationships with changing men. In these relationships, it is necessary for an unchanging God to change in His dealings with changing men in order to remain unchanging in His character and purposes.”

The following scriptures are places and events where God changed His mind:

For instance, in Exodus 32:1-15, God had just given the Israelites the Ten Commandments, and while Moses was receiving further instructions from God, the people persuaded Aaron to create a golden calf for them to worship (Exodus 32:1-6). God saw this and told Moses that He would destroy the Israelites for their idolatry (Exodus 32:7-10). However, Moses interceded for the people, reminding God of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and asking Him to spare the Israelites (Exodus 32:11-13). The Bible then states that “the Lord relented and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened” (Exodus 32:14).

Again, in 2 Kings 20:1-11 and Isaiah 38:1-8, when King Hezekiah was sick and near death, God sent the prophet Isaiah to tell him that he would not recover. However, Hezekiah prayed and wept, and God extended his life by 15 years.

Also, in the book of Jonah Chapter 3, Prophet Jonah was instructed by God to go to Nineveh, and proclaim a message of judgment. Jonah was to warn the people of Nineveh that God had seen their wickedness and would destroy the city in 40 days if they did not repent (Jonah 3:4). However, the people of Nineveh, from the king to the lowest citizen, took Jonah’s message seriously. They declared a fast, put on sackcloth, and turned from their evil ways. Even the animals were included in the fast, and the king issued a decree calling for the people to turn from their violence and injustice (Jonah 3:5-9). When God saw the people’s repentance, He relented and did not destroy the city as He had said.

Furthermore, in Genesis 18:16-21, God informed Abraham of His plan to destroy the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah due to their wickedness. However, Abraham was concerned about the fate of his nephew, Lot, who lived in Sodom. Abraham turned to God and asked if He would destroy the righteous along with the wicked. He asked God if He would spare the city if there were 50 righteous people in it (Genesis 18:23-25). God agreed to spare the city for the sake of the 50 righteous people. Abraham, however, continued to negotiate with God. He asked if God would spare the city if there were only 45 righteous people, then 40, 30, 20, and finally 10 (Genesis 18:26-32). Each time, God agreed to spare the city for the sake of the righteous people.

Reconciling all the scriptures to the unchanging nature of God, one thing appears to be constant in all of them – repentance and intercession. This shows that in God’s dealings with men, His immutability should not be confused with immobility. Because He is dealing with a constantly changing man who has free will. God’s mobility enables Him to interact with men without changing His nature and attributes.

When a man cries out to God, God’s merciful and good character enables Him to respond with forgiveness, withholding what the man deserves and giving him what he doesn’t by His grace. This beautiful attribute of God may appear to mean God changing His mind. Whereas in the real sense of it, He is only remaining true to who He is. In addition, God’s forgiveness should not be mistaken as Him changing but rather a demonstration of His consistency in nature.

In conclusion, God’s actions and decisions can appear to change in response to human actions and intercession. However, this does not necessarily contradict God’s unchanging nature, which refers to His character and attributes.

[VictorKachi]

In order for change to occur, something necessary must either be gained, resulting in a positive change, or lost, resulting in a negative change. However, since God is flawless and lacks nothing, He is incapable of improving. Furthermore, if God were to lose something, He would cease to be perfect, thus ruling out the possibility of deterioration.
James 1:17 also emphasizes the consistency of God: “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.” The phrase “shadow of turning” relates to how we see the sun move and cast shadows. The sun rises and sets, appearing and disappearing daily, changing positions throughout the year. Unlike the sun, God, who is symbolically light, remains constant without any darkness or change. He is unchanging in His essence, perfections, plans, promises, and blessings. Being holy, He cannot turn to evil, and as the source of light, He cannot cause darkness. Since all good and perfect gifts come from Him, evil does not originate from Him, nor does He tempt anyone (James 1:13). The Bible affirms that God is unwavering in His character, will, and nature.

[VictorKachi]

The unchanging nature of God is connected to His omniscience. When a person changes their opinion, it is usually due to new information being revealed or a shift in circumstances requiring a different response. Because God knows everything, He cannot gain new knowledge that He was not already aware of. Therefore, when the Bible mentions God changing His mind, it signifies a change in the situation, not in God Himself. Below are some passages that affirms the doctrine of God’s immutability: He is unchanging and unchangeable.

God’s reaction over Nineveh (Jonah 3:5-10NKJV)
“Then God saw their works”, (verse 10)
the Hebrew term for “saw” being “ra’ah,” signified more than just a mere watching but a keen, perceptive understanding. The people of Nineveh avoided destruction when God saw how they humbly repented after Jonah warned them of their impending doom. This shows that God can change His plans based on human actions, proving that His nature is not completely unchanging.This does not suggest a transformation in God’s essence or identity but rather His consistent readiness to pardon and exhibit compassion. It demonstrates the intricate interplay between divine fairness and compassion, where God’s ultimate intention is to renew rather than annihilate. The calamity that God warned of was a direct consequence of Nineveh’s wicked deeds, yet His decision to avert it upon their repentance showcases His kindness and leniency.

Exodus 32:14
In this example, God decided to spare the Israelites and continue with His plan to establish a new nation under Moses, despite initially contemplating their destruction following the worshipping of the golden calf at Mount Sinai (Exodus 32:9-14).In this situation, it shows a divine shift in plan as a result of Moses’ plea. This does not suggest a change in God’s nature or His overall plan, but rather His willingness to respond to human deeds and supplications. It emphasizes the interactive bond between God and mankind, where God, in His control, permits His intentions to be impacted by the faithful requests of His followers.

Hezekiah and his death predicted (Isaiah 38:1-6)
In the tale of Hezekiah’s impending death foretold (Isaiah 38:1-6), we witness the king’s health deteriorating. Isaiah delivered the somber message to Hezekiah in verse one. The news deeply affected Hezekiah, prompting him to plead with God for mercy, citing his righteous deeds as justification. In response, God appeared to change His mind about the prophecy and granted Hezekiah an additional fifteen years of life.

1 Samuel 15:11
For God to say, “I feel sorrow that I made Saul king,” is not the same as saying, “I would not make him king if I had it to do over.” God is able to feel sorrow for an act in view of foreknown evil and pain, and yet go ahead and will to do it for wise reasons. And so later, when he looks back on the act, he can feel the sorrow for the act that was leading to the sad conditions, such as Saul’s disobedience.

In conclusion
Therefore, we hold dear the powerful verse found in Numbers 23:19 – “God is not human, that He would lie, Nor a son of man, that He would change His mind; Has He spoken, and will He not act? Or has He made a promise, and will He not fulfill it?” This verse is cherished because it shows God’s unwavering commitment to His promises, as He does not change His mind like a human would. In essence, God’s promises are secure because He can see all circumstances and knows that nothing will happen to make Him go back on His word.

[Humble oluchi God’s power]

Here are some examples in the Bible where God appears to change His mind or relent from a previous decision:

1. The Story of Jonah and Nineveh(Jonah 3:1-10): God initially instructed Jonah to preach judgment to the city of Nineveh, warning of its destruction in 40 days (Jonah 3:4). However, after the people of Nineveh repented, God relented and spared the city (Jonah 3:10).

2. The Story of Hezekiah’s Illness(2 Kings 20:1-11, Isaiah 38:1-22): God told Hezekiah through the prophet Isaiah that he would die from his illness (2 Kings 20:1, Isaiah 38:1). However, after Hezekiah prayed and wept, God added 15 years to his life (2 Kings 20:6, Isaiah 38:5).

3. The Story of the Israelites in the Wilderness (Exodus 32:1-14, 33:1-6): God was angry with the Israelites for worshiping the golden calf and threatened to destroy them (Exodus 32:10). However, after Moses interceded on their behalf, God relented and spared them (Exodus 32:14).

4. The Story of Abraham’s Intercession for Sodom(Genesis 18:16-33): God told Abraham that He would destroy Sodom and Gomorrah due to their wickedness (Genesis 18:20-21). However, after Abraham interceded on behalf of the cities, God agreed to spare them if He found at least 10 righteous people (Genesis 18:26-33).

5. The Story of David’s Census(2 Samuel 24:1-17, 1 Chronicles 21:1-17): God was angry with David for taking a census of the Israelites and threatened to punish them (2 Samuel 24:1-2). However, after David repented and offered sacrifices, God relented and spared the people (2 Samuel 24:16-17

6. Amos 7:3: “The Lord changed His mind about this. ‘It shall not be,’ said the Lord.”

(In this passage, God relents from sending a plague upon Israel after Amos intercedes on their behalf.)

7. Amos 7:6: “The Lord changed His mind about this. ‘This too shall not be,’ said the Lord God.”

(In this passage, God relents from sending fire upon Israel after Amos intercedes on their behalf.)

8. Genesis 6:6-7: “The Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. The Lord said, ‘I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky; for I am sorry that I have made them.'”
9.1 Samuel 15:35 Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death; for Samuel grieved over saul because the lord has changed his mind him as king over Israel .
( In this passage, the lord God changes his mind about Saul being king over Israel and decided to reject him)

In each of these cases, God’s “change of mind” is not a contradiction of His original plan, but rather a demonstration of His mercy, compassion, and desire to bless and forgive His people. Here are some examples of places in the Bible where God appears to change His mind:

[ambcovenant]

The Bible portrays God as unchanging, a quality theologians term His immutability. Scriptures such as Malachi 3:6 (“For I the LORD do not change”) and Hebrews 13:8 (“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever”) emphasize this aspect of God’s character. However, there are instances in Scripture where God appears to change His mind, leading to debates about how to reconcile these passages with His unchanging nature. These instances, often termed “divine relenting,” reveal God’s interaction with humanity and demonstrate His character in a profound way.
One of the clearest examples of God appearing to change His mind is found in the story of Jonah and Nineveh (Jonah 3:1-10). God sent Jonah to proclaim His judgment upon Nineveh, declaring that the city would be overthrown in forty days due to its wickedness. However, when the people of Nineveh repented in sackcloth and ashes, God “relented concerning the disaster He had declared He would bring upon them, and He did not do it” (Jonah 3:10). At first glance, this might suggest that God changed His mind. Yet, this instance showcases God’s mercy and willingness to respond to human repentance, consistent with His character as a compassionate and forgiving God (Joel 2:13).
Another example is Moses’ intercession for Israel after the golden calf incident (Exodus 32:7-14). When the Israelites worshiped the golden calf, God told Moses that He would destroy them and make a new nation from Moses’ descendants. Moses pleaded with God, reminding Him of His promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Verse 14 states, “So the LORD relented from the harm which He said He would do to His people.” While it may seem that God changed His mind, this passage reveals His openness to intercession and His faithfulness to His covenant.
In Genesis 18:22-33, Abraham interceded for Sodom, asking God to spare the city if righteous people could be found within it. Although the city was ultimately destroyed due to a lack of righteousness, this interaction highlights God’s willingness to engage in dialogue and His patience before executing judgment.
Reconciling these instances with God’s unchanging nature requires an understanding of God’s immutability in the context of His relational character. God’s essence—His nature, purposes, and promises—does not change. His justice, mercy, love, and holiness remain constant. What changes is how He expresses these attributes in response to human actions. In other words, God’s “relenting” does not indicate a shift in His character but rather His consistent application of justice and mercy based on the choices of people.
The concept of divine foreknowledge further clarifies this tension. God’s omniscience means that He knows all outcomes before they occur. When God “changes His mind,” it is not because He gains new knowledge or reevaluates a decision as humans do. Instead, these moments are part of His sovereign plan, designed to demonstrate His attributes and invite humanity into relationship with Him. For instance, God’s willingness to relent in response to repentance reveals His merciful nature, while His declarations of judgment highlight His justice.
The language used in Scripture to describe God’s actions often accommodates human understanding. Anthropomorphic expressions, such as God “relenting” or “changing His mind,” help finite humans grasp the infinite nature of God’s interactions. These terms do not suggest that God is indecisive but illustrate His dynamic relationship with creation.
In conclusion, God’s unchanging nature is not contradicted by instances where He appears to change His mind. These events demonstrate His consistent character—just, merciful, and faithful—responding to the free choices of humanity. As He engages with His creation, His actions reflect His unchanging purposes and reveal the depth of His relational nature. Through these interactions, we see a God who remains steadfast in His essence while lovingly inviting humanity into a transformative relationship.

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