Written By Ben Dankaka
Meditation – Romans 12:2
Does God change His mind? While there are Christians who would rather believe that God changes His mind, there are those who prefer to think that God does not change His mind. Remarkably, each of these groups backup their claims with scriptures. Those who believe that God doesn’t change His mind often support their claims with Balak’s oracle. Balak had said, “God is not a man that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind,” (Numbers 23:21). On the other hand, those who say God changes his mind make reference to the moment when God “repented” that He had made man (Genesis 6:6 – KJV). Or they may refer to the story of Jonah (Jonah 3:10). Interestingly, each of these contrasting positions is correct but then, they are often quoted out of context.
Anytime the Bible mentions God’s unchanged mind, it refers to His integrity or nature. God is by nature, unchangeable. Unlike man, God doesn’t mature or grow. Again, if God agrees to bless you, He would not renege because His integrity is intact. It was based on this context that Balak affirmed God’s unchangeable character. God is not like a man that would break a promise. So when David said, “The LORD has sworn and will not change his mind: You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.” He was referring to God’s promise concerning Jesus. Indeed, God didn’t change His mind as Jesus eventually became our priest forever (Psalm 110; Hebrews 7:21-22). Therefore, God doesn’t change His mind each time He promises to bless. But when it comes to empathy and forgiveness, God often changes His mind. In the Bible, there are instances where God changed His mind after “sinners” repented. Do you act like God?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, I want to be like you. Amen.
REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: Exodus 32:1-14
Unless otherwise stated all scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version.