Question: James asked, “What does the Bible mean when it says that 'God repented' (e.g., Gen. 6:6; Ex. 32:14; Num. 23:19; 1 Sam. 15:35; Jonah 3:10)? If one says that God changed His mind, what implications would this have for the nature and attributes of God?”

Answer: The word “repent” is often defined as turning from a former decision, or changing one's plans. At times Christians have used the term to mean one makes a redirection or an altering of their lifestyle. If one accepts any of these definitions then it becomes clear that when God repents He chooses a new course of action. This is not to say that His nature has changed, but that based upon a change in circumstances, His behavior has differed in order to properly relate to a new situation. As Wayne Grudem wrote, “If the situation changes, then of course God's attitude or expression of intention will also change.”

     One could state that God's general intentions are always the same, because His heart is loyal and always good. The Lord's intentions for specific events may not be constant though. In Jeremiah 18:8 He declares, “if [a] nation against which I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent concerning the calamity I planned to bring on it.” The New Revised Standard Version actually says “I will change my mind,” and the GOD'S WORD translation reads, “I will change my plans.” Scriptures like this one suggest that the Father's will concerning certain issues is not always set in stone.

     Peter Wagner stated, “Does God ever change His mind? If we take these Scriptures at face value, it is reasonable to think that, at least on occasion, He does.” What does this mean for God's character though? Is He not so controlling that He will predestine everything that happens? It seems not, but rather that in His love He has allowed man to have a free will that He will not exercise sovereignty over. “In other words," Wagner explained, "much of what human beings do really matters in determining history.” Whether or not the future already exists, the Lord does not make verdicts based solely on what is going to happen later, but based upon His relational interactions with people in the present. Such is evident in passages like Isaiah 38, where He changed His decree toward Hezekiah in response to a praying prophet.

References

Grudem, Wayne. Systematic Theology. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 1994. Pg. 165.

Holy Bible, New American Standard Bible.

Holy Bible, New Revised Standard Version Bible.

Holy Bible, GOD'S WORD.

Wagner, C. Peter. Changing Church. Ventura, California: Regal, 2004. Pg. 155, 154.