Does the Lord change his mind?

[elijah23]

Perhaps I am sometimes guilty of asking questions with obvious answers. Here would be an example of that, since I have the Scripture here to answer the question, I think. It’s enlightening, though, isn’t it?

When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God repented of the evil which he had said he would do to them; and he did not do it. Jonah 3:10 RSV

Any comments?

 

[Pard]

Malachi 3:6 “I the LORD do not change. So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed.â€

James 1:17 "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.â€

Numbers 23:19 “God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should change His mind. Does He speak and then not act? Does He promise and not fulfill?â€

The line you gave, along with a few others in Genesis (6:6) and Exodus (32:14) are improper translations of the Hebrew word. The word is properly translated to regret (though, repent does fit the bill, but it can be misleading). We can regret and be sorry for things we have done, it doesn't mean we reverse them or would change our minds about them.

I regret ever introducing myself this girl named Erin but I'd never, ever, change that.

In that verse from Jonah, God is talking about how He felt bad for what He was gong to do to the Ninevites, but because they repented for their sins He showed mercy, and as you may recall, mercy is totally within God's frame of mind! Furthermore, if we look at that entire chapter in context, God was threatening the Ninevites, He is omnipotent, He knows when a threat will work.

What you are quoting is a line that many atheists use to try and show God is contradicting in His Word and scripture. This is wrong, it is a human projection that people are trying to fit onto God.

 

[elijah23]

Malachi 3:6 “I the LORD do not change. So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed.â€

James 1:17 "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.â€

Numbers 23:19 “God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should change His mind. Does He speak and then not act? Does He promise and not fulfill?â€

The line you gave, along with a few others in Genesis (6:6) and Exodus (32:14) are improper translations of the Hebrew word. The word is properly translated to regret (though, repent does fit the bill, but it can be misleading). We can regret and be sorry for things we have done, it doesn't mean we reverse them or would change our minds about them.

I regret ever introducing myself this girl named Erin but I'd never, ever, change that.

In that verse from Jonah, God is talking about how He felt bad for what He was gong to do to the Ninevites, but because they repented for their sins He showed mercy, and as you may recall, mercy is totally within God's frame of mind! Furthermore, if we look at that entire chapter in context, God was threatening the Ninevites, He is omnipotent, He knows when a threat will work.

What you are quoting is a line that many atheists use to try and show God is contradicting in His Word and scripture. This is wrong, it is a human projection that people are trying to fit onto God.

Some people’s theologies seem to depend on the idea that the Lord cannot change. I am trying to demonstrate that such theologies are in error.

 

[Pard]

Then please, find a different "theology" than Christianity, because it is very evident that the Lord's mind never has, does, or will change, ever. In fact, it is impossible for a Being who is all knowing to change His mind.

 

[elijah23]

Then please, find a different "theology" than Christianity, because it is very evident that the Lord's mind never has, does, or will change, ever. In fact, it is impossible for a Being who is all knowing to change His mind.

The Scripture I quoted to begin this topic shows the Lord does change his mind, does it not? I’ll quote it again:

When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God repented of the evil which he had said he would do to them; and he did not do it. Jonah 3:10 RSV

 

[Pard]

Then please, find a different "theology" than Christianity, because it is very evident that the Lord's mind never has, does, or will change, ever. In fact, it is impossible for a Being who is all knowing to change His mind.

The Scripture I quoted to begin this topic shows the Lord does change his mind, does it not? I’ll quote it again:

When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God repented of the evil which he had said he would do to them; and he did not do it. Jonah 3:10 RSV

I already answered that... Go read my first post...

 

[elijah23]

Then please, find a different "theology" than Christianity, because it is very evident that the Lord's mind never has, does, or will change, ever. In fact, it is impossible for a Being who is all knowing to change His mind.

The Scripture I quoted to begin this topic shows the Lord does change his mind, does it not? I’ll quote it again:

When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God repented of the evil which he had said he would do to them; and he did not do it. Jonah 3:10 RSV

I already answered that... Go read my first post...

I trust the Revised Standard Version of the Bible.

 

[jasoncran]

by your thinking elijah its most possible that the lord on a whim could just nay the cross isnt enough, and we dont go to heaven.

hard to reconcile that verse with the saying of the lord that plainly states i changeth not.

i am glad that my god blessed me to find a good teacher to expound the word to me and that i can ask and the lord will show me how the bible is to be understood.

do you attend any church and have where will you be when you die. ie are you born again?

 

[elijah23]

by your thinking elijah its most possible that the lord on a whim could just nay the cross isnt enough, and we dont go to heaven.

I was quoting Scripture.

hard to reconcile that verse with the saying of the lord that plainly states i changeth not.

Yet they are both in the Bible, aren't they?

i am glad that my god blessed me to find a good teacher to expound the word to me and that i can ask and the lord will show me how the bible is to be understood.

It is good, I think, to pray constantly and try to let the Lord lead us.

do you attend any church and have where will you be when you die. ie are you born again?

I am a member of a United Methodist Church. I believe, if the Lord is willing, that I will pass on to the resurrection when I die. In the two United Methodist Churches I’ve attendeed, the idea of being “born again†is not one I’m sure I’ve heard discussed much. I think my church sort of looks at spiritual growth as something that matures over a long period of time. Back in 1973, however, I did have an experience where the Lord introduced himself into my life, and I think of that as my “born again†experience. I’ve tried to walk with him ever since, with varied success.

 

[jasoncran]

one must be born again to enter the kingdom of god. describe this expericence. and one of those intpretations is off of yours. if the lord can change like you say, then he either lied or the bible is in correct

i like pard's view as that fits it. when i read that verse in the kjv. he was going to judge men and simply decided not to. their actions saw to this as he was planning to judge them and warned them and waited for thier response . upon repentance he didnt judge them.

he knew that they would repent but warned them and didnt open the gates of wrath and pour it out on them.

 

[elijah23]

one must be born again to enter the kingdom of god. describe this expericence. and one of those intpretations is off of yours.

The Lord made his presence known to me in 1973, filling me with his love, and I’ve tried to walk with him ever since.

if the lord can change like you say, then he either lied or the bible is in correct

I merely quote Scripture. I doubt if the Bible is incorrect in this instance.

i like pard's view as that fits it. when i read that verse in the kjv. he was going to judge men and simply decided not to. their actions saw to this as he was planning to judge them and warned them and waited for thier response . upon repentance he didnt judge them.

he knew that they would repent but warned them and didnt open the gates of wrath and pour it out on them.

I trust my Bible's account of these events.

 

[Pard]

I trust my Bible's account of these events.

You should be aware that Bible translations can be wrong, and I do recall that the RSV had some serious issues, in fact I believe it was the translation that started the movement to go back to only using the KJV in many churches. Though this was because it is very shaky on certain New Testament things, like the virgin birth, and in fact Logos doesn't have a translation of it because they refused to take the rights.

Maybe if you like that style you should consider the RSRV, which is the fixed version of the RSV.

Also, the Old Testament was poorly translated in that version, it had a "unique" viewpoint.

Lastly, I'd consider the Hebrew text to be the definite account for all thins int he Old Testament.

 

[elijah23]

You should be aware that Bible translations can be wrong, and I do recall that the RSV had some serious issues, in fact I believe it was the translation that started the movement to go back to only using the KJV in many churches. Though this was because it is very shaky on certain New Testament things, like the virgin birth, and in fact Logos doesn't have a translation of it because they refused to take the rights.

Maybe if you like that style you should consider the RSRV, which is the fixed version of the RSV.

Also, the Old Testament was poorly translated in that version, it had a "unique" viewpoint.

Lastly, I'd consider the Hebrew text to be the definite account for all thins int he Old Testament.

The King James Version says this:

And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not. Jonah 3:10 KJV

 

[jasoncran]

one must be born again to enter the kingdom of god. describe this expericence. and one of those intpretations is off of yours.

The Lord made his presence known to me in 1973, filling me with his love, and I’ve tried to walk with him ever since.explain this as i did feel a peace till after i acknowledge my sins to the lord, but only after that i knew i was sinner on my way to hell if i didnt repent.

if the lord can change like you say, then he either lied or the bible is in correct

I merely quote Scripture. I doubt if the Bible is incorrect in this instance.
[quote:34rwz6pr]i like pard's view as that fits it. when i read that verse in the kjv. he was going to judge men and simply decided not to. their actions saw to this as he was planning to judge them and warned them and waited for thier response . upon repentance he didnt judge them.

he knew that they would repent but warned them and didnt open the gates of wrath and pour it out on them.

I trust my Bible's account of these events.[/quote:34rwz6pr]

 

[elijah23]

explain this as i did feel a peace till after i acknowledge my sins to the lord, but only after that i knew i was sinner on my way to hell if i didnt repent.

My initial experience (1973) was of great warmth. Very shortly after, the Lord began disciplining me. The first five years were quite difficult.

In the mid-1980’s the Lord made it clear he wanted me to repent of several sins I was committing. Suddenly, after having repented of these sins, most of my troubles vanished.

I am now a big proponent of repentance.

 

[jasoncran]

that seems odd, no real repentance just a 'warmth, not all feel this stuff after salvation. isnt not needed, just the act and meaniful change of heart.

we dont base salvation on emotions but actions.

did you repent after this emotion for feel a need to repent.

 

[elijah23]

we

Whis is "we"?

 

[Pard]

You should be aware that Bible translations can be wrong, and I do recall that the RSV had some serious issues, in fact I believe it was the translation that started the movement to go back to only using the KJV in many churches. Though this was because it is very shaky on certain New Testament things, like the virgin birth, and in fact Logos doesn't have a translation of it because they refused to take the rights.

Maybe if you like that style you should consider the RSRV, which is the fixed version of the RSV.

Also, the Old Testament was poorly translated in that version, it had a "unique" viewpoint.

Lastly, I'd consider the Hebrew text to be the definite account for all thins int he Old Testament.

The King James Version says this:

And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not. Jonah 3:10 KJV

Oh, I wasn't saying the translation was the problem (though it does help to see the actual Hebrew meaning), I was only saying that because it is wise if we consult multiple Bible translations because man puts his own spin on the Word.

I've already answered your problem and I am done, I just was adding on that your Bible translation may not be the definite translation.

 

[jasoncran]

we

Whis is "we"?

the followers of christ.
if we based things on emotions then what point is the bible. the biblical promises us and our faith in the AUTHOR of the bible is what gets us to heaven.

 

[elijah23]

we

Whis is "we"?

the followers of christ.
if we based things on emotions then what point is the bible. the biblical promises us and our faith in the AUTHOR of the bible is what gets us to heaven.

I think this is what gets us to heaven:

From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Matt 4:17 RSV