All About GOD - Growing Relationships with Jesus and Others
Does God change His Mind?
I think we could all agree that God is omnipotent, omnipresent & omniscient. If He wanted to change His mind, He certainly could. But, does He? Being all-knowing means He knows everything - past present future - so why would He need to change His mind? He knows what is, what was, & what is to be. He knew us before we were in the womb. Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations. Jeremiah 1:5
In the book of Exodus we read the testimony of the Israelites waiting impatiently on Moses to come down from the mountain. They melted all of their gold down & made a calf to worship. Needless to say, it angered the Lord. After all He had done for them to get them to this point, He was done. He was going to wash His hands clean of this generation. Moses intervened for them & God chose to answer Moses' prayer. So, did He change His mind?
In the garden of Eden God created the perfect world with one stipulation - don't eat from the tree of knowledge . Of course they faltered. After this happened, men only became more & more evil. The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of His heart was only evil continually. And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and it grieved Him to his heart. Genesis 6:5-6. Here, the Lord "grieved" that He had made man. Does that mean that He made a mistake by making man? He knew man was going to sin, right? He's God.
Does He change His mind or does He just wait on the faith of the saints' prayers to act on His perfect will?
Views: 754
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Colby on
-
Well said, Eric.
We do not understand God's ways fully. We know only what he has revealed to us in the Scriptures and in nature. He is beyond our comprehension. We perceive things only through our limited and finite senses and minds at a point in time. God exists outside of the time-space continuum. He is without beginning or end. He knows the entire story. God's nature is unchanging and always in action, as you say.
-
-
Does God change his mind?
This question clearly requires more than a simple "yes" or "no" answer. Either without further explanation leads to problems. We need to unpack the answer carefully and thoughtfully.
Fallible human beings like you and me often change our minds. Why? Sometimes because we are fickle or indecisive; not totally convinced that our decision is the best one. Sometimes, we change our minds because others point out the flaws or errors in our judgment, we acquire additional information that causes us to change our thinking, or we learn through trial and error ("hindsight is 20:20").
- On the one hand, there are biblical passages that imply or suggest that God does change his mind.
- Also, if we say God never changes his mind, are we imposing a limitation on him? After all, the Bible says that with God, "all things are possible."
- On the other hand, if God can and does change his mind, what does that say about him?
- Under what conditions or circumstances would God change his mind, and why would he do so?
- Does that mean God's will, God's plan, and God's purpose for us is evolving and subject to change?
- If so, how does that notion line up with the idea that God is perfect, all-knowing, all-powerful, etc?
The Scriptures tell us that another attribute or characteristic of God is that he is immutable. What does that mean, you ask? Well, let me point you to two verses in particular:
- Hebrews 13:8 tells us this: "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever."
- 1 Samuel 15:29: And he who is the Glory of Israel [God] will not lie, nor will he change his mind, for he is not human that he should change his mind!”
My answer to your question, therefore, is "no," but with a proviso: God does not change his mind with respect to those things that are part of his divine will, purpose, and plan. God is dependable, reliable, and consistent. His moral standards are unchanging. His will is perfect in every way and cannot be improved upon; his purposes, plans, and decrees are consistent over time and will be realized as prophesied, including in the end when all things will be made right in the Book of Revelation.
If God is capable of making mistakes or changing his mind because fallible human beings point out the errors of his judgment or can persuade him of a better way, then God is neither perfect nor all-knowing, as the Bible claims he is. That presents a problem because God is no longer God. Yes, God is capable of doing all things, but he only acts in ways that are consistent with his perfect nature. Here are links to a few articles that address your question biblically and logically:- R.C. Sproul writes: "This is a very thorny problem. The Bible appears to say at times that God changed His mind;" but, he adds, "is it even thinkable to us that God should have an idea that is corrected by a fallible creature? If we entertain such a thought the ramifications are sobering ... ." Read more.
- GotQuestions.org: "The Scriptures that are interpreted as God seeming to change 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. Read more.
- CARM.org: "No, God does not change his mind – not in an eternal sense. However, we do see verses in the Bible that imply he does – in a temporal sense." Read more.
- On the one hand, there are biblical passages that imply or suggest that God does change his mind.
-
Permalink Reply by Tammy on
-
Thanks so much for the replies Cody. I don't think God is fallible of course. What I was wondering is if God is waiting on the faith of saints to pray about it. I like the 1 Samuel verse. I think it says it all. As Eric said, we try to place God in our logic & that's just not logical. lol
-
Permalink Reply by Zachary James Gott on
-
This is a question I've thought about a lot. And the real answer is that it is not relevant to our pursuit of happiness. God will do what He promises to do.
-
-
Tho this answer is 2 years old, this answer is null & void as to the discussion at hand. Everything that is asked about God & His Word is relevant in my opinion as well as in other's opinions. We're not seeking happiness but seeking God's will & that definitely doesn't always consist of being happy.
-
-
Yes in my view god change the mind , but he knows all because he made us from their hand so he don't change our mind because he made us after thought about us that for what i can make that baby and then he full fill our need and made us, so their is no need to change his mind.......I think you got it.
-
-
Wellcome Friend
-
-
Whether or not God changes mind , as per my opinion, is not going to change his love for us.
-
-
That wasn't the question & this answer has no bearing as to the what the discussion entailed but thanks for setting aside the time to reply.
-
-
An example,
If you read Ez. 21st chap. you will see God examining the deeds of the Hebrews( Jerusalem) and speaking His intended judgments of her but in vs 30 He says
Ezek 22:30-31
30 And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.
31 Therefore have I poured out mine indignation upon them; I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath: their own way have I recompensed upon their heads, saith the Lord God.
KJVHe reached a juncture at which He could have acted in one of two directions but alas the criterion could not be met so therefore He had no recourse but to proceed with the judgment rather than mercy(grace, for the Man had not been born yet that would once and for all answer this criterion). He was demonstrating that obedience rather than sacrifice was His preferred choice. His foreknowledge prevents any second guessing His decisions and we need to observe His actions from the point of His all knowing LOVE for us, not what will make us all in the moment happy but what will cause us to prosper through our entire eternity. He demonstrates His loving wisdom for us to ponder and learn from and, maybe someday emulate as Kings and Priests reigning with Him!!
love you brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus,
Dave
-
-
in my previous post the last statement the Holy Spirit corrected me. This is exactly what we are being groomed and trained to be,Kings reigning with The King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. and since we are HIS Handiwork(and not our own) we will be as He has prophesied we wold be. Thank you Holy Spirit.
Welcome to
All About GOD
The Good News
Meet Face-to-Face & Collaborate
© 2024 Created by AllAboutGOD.com.
Powered by
