Can God change his mind?

[ScottEmerson]

In Exodus 32:7-14, there is a passage that states that God is planning to annihilate the Jewish people. Moses prays earnestly for them. God repents and decides to spare them.

1. Should we read this literally?

2. It not, what are the reasons for doing so - is it a matter of doctrine that tells us this or something in the passage itself, or something else?

3. Dod God really change his mind?

4. Had Moses not prayed, would God have destroyed the Israelites?

5. Does the reading of this have anything to do with our prayer life - that is, are there things in our life that we are missing out on because we do not pray for them...can we, in fact, "change" God's mind, through fervant prayer?

 

[Reformationist]

Originally posted by ScottEmerson
In Exodus 32:7-14, there is a passage that states that God is planning to annihilate the Jewish people. Moses prays earnestly for them. God repents and decides to spare them.

God is immutable, or unchangeable. Nothing can increase or diminish God's perfection, and He does not change for the better or the worse. Because He is not in time He is not subject to change as creatures are (2 Pet. 3:8). Yet He is active in His world all the time, constantly making new things spring forth. (Is. 42:9; 2 Cor. 5:17; Rev. 21:5). In all His works He expresses His perfect character with perfect consistency. True to His unchangeable character, He will fulfill every word He has spoken and the plans He has made (num. 23:19; Ps. 33:11; Mal. 3:6; James 1:16-18). His immutability explains why, when people change their attitude to Him, He changes His attitude to them (Gen. 6:5-7; Ex. 32:9-14; 1 Sam. 15:11; Jon. 3:10).
God's unchangeable perfection does not mean He is impassive and unfeeling, but what he feels is a matter of His own choice, and is included in the unity of His infinite being. God is not driven by His reaction to events or the presence of feelings that arise within Him. But many scriptures, such as the one you cite, represent God as having emotions, such as joy, sorrow, anger, and delight. It is a great mistake to forget that God feels - though of necessity in a way that transcends a finite being's experience of emotion.
There is no contradiction in these verses and passages teaching the changelessness of God (Mal. 3:6; James 1:17) and that God does not change His mind (Num. 23:19; 1 Sam. 15:29; Ps. 33:11; Is. 46:10).
Also, remember that this description is anthropopathic (God is depicted in terms of the human experience of knowledge and emotion). We must also recognize that the immutable and sovereign God deals appropriately with changes in human behavior. When we sin or repent of sin, He "changes His mind" with regard to the blessing or punishment appropriate to the situation (Ex. 32:12, 14; 1 Sam. 15:11; 2 Sam. 24:16; Jer. 18:11; Amos 7:3, 6) - all in accordance with His sovereign and eternal purposes.
Because God is changeless in His being, and eternally loyal to His covenant promises, we can have firm confidence in Him who is "the same yesterday, today, and forever" (Heb. 13:8).

God bless.

 

[TruelightUK]

In simplistic terms, the answer is 'Yes'.

The basic principles by which God operates are constant, as is His character. But the practical outworking of that character and principles may be influenced by our human responses. Particularly when you reflect that various of those principles are, on the face of it, paradoxical - justice and mercy, being the most obvious. Thus we are called upon to make intercession, in order to turn aside God's wrath and invoke His mercy - as Christ Himself makes intercession for us. Without Christ's intercession, would we not all have been destined for Hell? Yet His actions changed our destinies, causing God to view us differently and 'change His mind' about our eternal destiny.

But then, of course, we get into the whole debate about foreknowledge and predestination, election and freewill!

Anthony

 

[LouisBooth]

Scott, don't be a troll. Don't double post in forums. You posted this in another forum, exact same post. I'm closing this one.

If you wish to post more go here

http://www.christianforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=15813