Does God Change His Mind?

Does God Change His Mind?
Brad Reiches
Jun 5 2007 11:47PM

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Wednesday, June 6, 2007
GodThoughtsWired!

"Does God 'Change His Mind?'"

"The Glory of Israel will not lie or change His mind;

for He is not a man that He should change His mind."
1 Samuel 15:29

That certainly seems clear enough, and, yet one GodThoughtsWired! rightfully asks, "But what about, Exodus 32:14,

'So the LORD changed His mind about the harm which He
said He would do to His people.'  AND
'Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah put him to
death?  Did he not fear the LORD and entreat the favor
of the LORD, and the LORD changed His mind about the
misfortune which He had pronounced against them?' (Jeremiah 26:19).
AND 'The LORD changed His mind about this."It shall not
be," said the LORD' (Amos 7:3).  AND
'The LORD changed His mind about this."This too shall
not be," said the Lord GOD' (Amos 7:6).
How can this same Bible say "the Glory of Israel will
not lie or change His mind?"

-bold mine

EXCELLENT QUESTION!!!  This is classic "apparent contradiction."  However, a careful and comprehensive study of this subject marvelously clears up the confusion.

In EVERY case (namely, Exodus 32:14; Jeremiah 26:19; Amos 7:3,6), the Hebrew word that the NASB translates "changed mind" is "nicham."  Indeed, this is the "technically accurate" translation, however, this is a rare case where a literal English rendition actually confuses the matter.  As a result, this is a rare example where further study is needed beyond the "word for word" translation of the NASB.  The word "nicham," does literally mean "to change the mind," however, practically it is best understood in English as "to relent," or "to repent."

Take Amos 7:6 as an example.  Whereas,  the NASB accurately renders the verse, "The Lord changed His mind," the KJV says, "The Lord repented for this,"  and the NIV says, "The Lord relented."  In this case, the paraphrase of the Amplified Version gives us excellent insight as to the intended meaning of scripture when it states, "The Lord relented and revoked this sentence."  In Jeremiah 18:1-8 (see also verses 9-10), we find an insightful commentary on this wonderful attribute of the Lord who is willing to "relent:"

"The Word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord saying,

'Arise and go down to the potter's house, and there I will

announce My words to you.'  Then I went down to the potter's

house, and there he was, making something on the wheel.

But the vessel that he was making of clay was spoiled in the hand

of the potter; so he remade it into another vessel, as it pleased

the potter to make.  Then the word of the Lord came to me saying,

'Can I not, O house of Israel, deal with you as this potter does?'

declares the Lord.  'Behold, like the clay in the potter's hand,

so are you in My hand, O house of Israel.  At one moment I

might speak concerning a nation or concerning a kingdom to

uproot, to pull down, or to destroy it; if that nation against which

I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent concerning the calamity

I planned to bring on it..."
-bold mind

Conclusion:  the Greek word "nicham," although technically, and accurately translated by the NASB as "change the mind," is not intended to imply an uncertain or indecisive God who might "change His mind" at any given time, but rather, a God who is willing to mercifully withhold judgment from those who repent of their sins, or vice versa.  As we have marvelously seen, a comprehensive study of this subject actually affirms 1 Samuel 15:29 when it says,

"The Glory of Israel will not lie or change His mind;

 for He is not a man that He should change His mind."

It is as if God has decreed two options within His unchanging justice for every human act.  Option a)  The way of Judgment, and  Option b)  The way of mercy.  In both cases...

The choice is up to us!