Subject: Is God subject to change? |
Bible Note: Greetings John! No, for one simple reason: It would make God a liar. God Himself said that He relented. There are a number of times where God is said to have relented. Ex. 23:14 - "Then the LORD relented and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened." Ps. 106:45 - "for their sake he remembered his covenant and out of his great love he relented." Jer. 18:8 - " and if that nation I warned repents of its evil, then I will relent and not inflict on it the disaster I had planned." Jer. 26:3 - "Perhaps they will listen and each will turn from his evil way. Then I will relent and not bring on them the disaster I was planning because of the evil they have done." Jer. 26:13 - "Now reform your ways and your actions and obey the LORD your God. Then the LORD will relent and not bring the disaster he has pronounced against you." Jer. 26:19 - "‘Did Hezekiah king of Judah or anyone else in Judah put him to death? Did not Hezekiah fear the LORD and seek his favor? And did not the LORD relent, so that he did not bring the disaster he pronounced against them? We are about to bring a terrible disaster on ourselves!" Joel 2:13 - "Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity." Amos 7:3 - "So the LORD relented. 'This will not happen,' the LORD said." Amos 7:6 - "So the LORD relented. 'This will not happen either,' the Sovereign LORD said." John 3:9 - "Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish." John 4:2 - "He prayed to the LORD, 'O LORD, is this not what I said when I was still at home? That is why I was so quick to flee to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity." Any theological statements we devise, must deal with these very clear statements of fact. Where we differ on this is that I see two kinds of plans of God. One which is unconditional and one which is conditional. The unconditionals plans are layed out from eternity and nothing we do or say can change them. However, there are also conditional plans which are impacted by our choices. These are the kinds of plans reflected in the verses above. God said He would do one thing. The people responded by repenting. God then relented in respose to their repentence. But, we can't simply take these statements and say that they don't really mean that God relented. :-) Or, do you believe that God lied when He said that He was going to destroy Niveveh in 40 days? Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |