1 Samuel 15:10-11: 10) Then the word of the Lord came to Samuel, saying, 11) I regret making Saul king, for he has turned back from following Me and has not performed My commands. And Samuel was grieved and angry [with Saul], and he cried to the Lord all night.

Thought: Can God Change His Mind?

Reflection: wide range of meanings

No treatment of the doctrine of immutability would be complete without a discussion of the problem posed by God’s alleged “repentance.” If God’s plan is unalterable and he is immutable, in what sense can it be said that he “changed his mind”?

The Hebrew word typically translated “change his mind” or “repent” is nacham. This word actually has a rather wide range of meanings, including:

  • experiencing emotional pain such as grief or sorrow (see Genesis 6:6-7; Exodus 13:17; Judges 21:6, 15; 1 Samuel 15:11, 35; Job 42:6; Jeremiah 31:19),
  • being comforted (see Genesis 24:67; Genesis 27:42; Genesis 37:35; Genesis 38:12; 2 Samuel 13:39; Psalms 77:3; Psalms 119:52; Isaiah 1:24; Jeremiah 31:15; Ezekiel 5:13; Ezekiel 14:22; Ezekiel 31:16; Ezekiel 32:31),
  • relenting from or repudiating a course of action previously embraced (see Deuteronomy 32:36; Psalms 135:14; Judges 2:18; 2 Samuel 24:16; 1 Chronicles 21:15; Psalms 90:13; Psalms 106:45; Jeremiah 8:6; Jeremiah 20:16; Jeremiah 42:10),
  • retracting a statement or changing one’s mind regarding a course of action (see Exodus 32:12, Exodus 32:14; Numbers 23:19; 1 Samuel 15:29; Psalms 110:4; Isaiah 57:6; Jeremiah 4:28; Jeremiah 15:6; Jeremiah 18:8, Jeremiah 18:10; Jeremiah 26:3, Jeremiah 26:13, 19; Ezekiel 24:14; Joel 2:13-14; Amos 7:3, 6; Jonah 3:9-10; Jonah 4:2; Zechariah 8:14).

This compels us to acknowledge the ambiguity of the English word repent and cautions us to be careful in ascribing it to God. Human beings repent of moral evil. We transgress God’s law and acknowledge our sorrow for having done so and our determination to change how we behave. Obviously, whatever else God’s “repenting” might mean, it does not mean He has sinned and is changing His ways. If that were the case, he would hardly be worthy of the title God; still less would he be worthy of anyone’s worship. This is why most English versions (except the KJV) use the word “relent” or “retract” or something similar.

Look specifically at two passages, both of which use the word nacham.

God is not man, that he should lie,
or a son of man, that he should change his mind.
Has he said, and will he not do it?
Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it? (Numbers 23:19)

And Samuel said to him, “The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you this day and has given it to a neighbor of yours, who is better than you. And the Glory of Israel will not lie or have regret, for he is not a man, that he should have regret.” (1 Samuel 15:28-29)

Note well, in 1 Samuel 15:11 that God “regretted” making Saul king. Yet here in 1 Samuel 15:29 and Numbers 23:19 it says that God cannot repent, “change his mind,” or “regret” an action he has taken. Scholars have generally said that there are four possible ways of responding to these texts: Taken from Tough Topics: Biblical Answers to 25 Challenging Questions, by Sam Storms

  • The statements in 1 Samuel 15:11, 35 and 1 Samuel 15:29 (as well as Num. 23:19) are contradictory.
  • The statement in 1 Samuel 15:29 (and Num. 23:19) must be interpreted in light of 1 Samuel 15:11, 35.
  • The statements in 1 Samuel 15:11, 35 must be interpreted in light of 1 Samuel 15:29 (and Num. 23:19).
  • The statements in 1 Samuel 15:11, 35 use the word nacham to mean “regret” or “feel emotional sorrow,” whereas in 1 Samuel 15:29 it means “deviate” from or “change one’s mind” concerning a stated course of action; thus, in point of fact, there is no inconsistency between verses 11, 35, and verse 29.

What all this means, very simply, is that God is dependable! Our trust in him is therefore a confident trust, for we know that he will not, indeed cannot, change. His purposes are unfailing, and his promises unassailable. It is because the God who promised us eternal life is immutable that we may rest assured that nothing, not trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword, shall separate us from the love of Christ. It is because Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever that neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, no not even powers, height, depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:35-39)!

Prayer:  Father in heaven you are the same today, yesterday and tomorrow.  There is no shadow in turning for You.  There are no “shades of gray”.  There is our lack of understanding and Your determination that we should now know why/what You have purposed to occur in our lives.  Help me Lord to become close to the Savior so that I can live with the things that happen in my life and better apply the knowledge you have shared.  In Jesus’ wise and all-knowing name.