Does God Change His Mind?

During the sermon yesterday we skipped over a frequently debated text.

Exodus 32:14
So the LORD changed His mind about the disaster He said He would bring on His people.

Often when you read this text it seems so confusing. While planning the sermon we discussed the difficulty in this text and how it might create some questions. Due to the time constraints and the intent of the sermon, we felt dealing with this topic would only be a distraction from the Big Idea. Therefore, I wanted to invite a guest to blog on this topic. I have asked Dr. Richard Tompkins to write today. He is an apologist, a former staff member, and a part of our planning team. (Our Resident Theologian) Here is his comments on the issue of God Changing His Mind... This is also known as Open Theism.

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What is Open Theism?

Essentially those who call themselves “open theists” believe that God is a temporal being in that He exists within time rather then outside of time and as a result He does not have exhaustive knowledge of the future. Therefore, He must adjust His plans to the free choices of human beings since human decisions are utterly undetermined and unpredictable and so He does not know what choices they will make. As a result, God then is forced to change His mind at times, He is influenced by events that occur in the future, and He sometimes regrets actions that He has performed. Open theists find support in several passages in the Bible where it appears that God changes His mind or regrets actions He has taken. The most often quoted passages in support of this position are Exodus 32:7-10, Isaiah 38:1-5, and Jonah 3-4.

The Problem with Open Theism

The major problem with open theism is that it undervalues the sovereign control of God. Open theists overlook the vast evidence in Scripture that point to God’s sovereignty. The Bible is replete with passages that detail the sovereign power of God to control the world and His exhaustive knowledge of past, present, and future events. This includes control of human will and decision making (Is. 10:5-12; 14:24; 44:28; Acts 17:26; Gen. 45:5-8; Ex. 4:21; Jdg. 14:4; 2 Sam. 24; Lk. 22:22; Acts 2:23-24; Rev. 17:17; Rom. 9:17). Therefore, human freedom is not as indeterminate as open theists proclaim. As James 4:13-16 illustrates, we may think we are free to make decisions but there is a greater power and plan that overrides it.

Putting it all together

Here’s the truth: God really does control everything either directly or indirectly. Everything that happens, in the end, works in concert with His sovereign will (Eph. 1:11; Rom 8:28; 11:33-36). The Bible is clear that God does not fail in anything that He chooses to do (Ps. 33:11; 115:3; 135:6; Pr. 21:30; Is. 14:27; 43:13; Rev. 3:7). God knows the future and often predicted what will happen centuries before they happened including the decisions of people and how they would behave (1 Sam. 10:1-7; 1 Kg. 13:1-4; Is. 44-28-45:13; Jr. 37:6-10; Mt. 26:34).

If it is true that God really does know and in fact exercises control of the future, then what about those passages which the open theists quote that make it seem that God changes His mind? First, God has always provided a means for repentance that will cause Him to relent from exercising the judgment He has already prescribed (Jeremiah 18:5-10). Second, God has always relented in extending His promised blessings when people sin against Him. There is a major difference between God changing His mind and His relenting in the exercising of judgment or providing blessings. Relenting has always been a part of God’s sovereign and unchanging plan. It is not forced upon Him because He does not know what will happen. In truth it is a tool He uses to bring about His plan. Since God actively interacts with people as they live out their lives, He pronounces curses on them at times and blesses them at other times but all within and to bring about His greater eternal plan for humanity. This greater plan has not changed and can not ever change. God is working to bring it about both within time and outside of time, on earth and in heaven.