Is God Immutable?

[Brother Mike]

God's character is immutable but there was an instance or two in scripture where people were able to get God to change His mind on something. Does that count?

God also changed His mind several times on his own. People have issues with this who believe in the Crystal ball God.
For example, God promised Israel the promise land, said it was theirs, said it was flowing with Milk and Honey, but they sure did not see it. Now if God knew ahead of time they were not going to see it, then God is a liar. We know better than that, some don't though.

Num_14:34 After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise.

Does God make Promises that He knows he will break? Not my God. Lot's of other people who don't know God believe He does.

Mike.

 

[JohnDB]

God's character is immutable but there was an instance or two in scripture where people were able to get God to change His mind on something. Does that count?

That's a good question now isn't it?

Abraham's discussion with God about Sodom is rather interesting.

Then Moses had to intervene in Israel's behalf several times.

Prayers are our individual access to God.
We ask God for stuff and actions on a regular basis...but do we actually get Him to notice our problems and then cause Him to act when otherwise God wouldn't?

Maybe these stories are in the Bible to get us to understand the importance of us changing by asking God for things that He already knows we need... because otherwise we would otherwise ask for things like Cain or Balaam wanted to...and still not understand what God really wants from us.

 

[WIP]

When I was a child and asked my parents for permission and got the "No" answer but later after I pleaded they changed their mind, did I cause them to change their mind? Having raised my own children I can honestly say the answer is "No." They changed their mind because they wanted to.

 

[smaller]

It's a moot point. God uses and employs yes and no, and any answers inbetween, all simultaneously and continually.

When we try to anthropomorphize God there are bound to be no credible answers. But the human mind leans that way and thusly asks those kinds of questions.

In analysis of understanding God, we might learn to see Him in "all things" which is the sight Paul employed:

Acts 17:
24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
25 Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;

Seems to be a bit complex, and quite OVER the heads of any of US to really grapple with, even on an individual basis, yet alone a collective basis, a world basis or a universe basis.

28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being

 

[Jim Parker]

God's character is immutable but there was an instance or two in scripture where people were able to get God to change His mind on something. Does that count?

God's character includes being merciful.
All mankind depends on that characteristic being immutable.