The Repentance of God?

“…God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do It, or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?...”

Numbers 23:19....

The idea of our God “repenting”may suggest that He has done “wrong” or has made some kind of “mistake” in the same way of mere human beings. If this were true, it would be a MAJOR problem in accepting the teachings of Divine Deity. However, the scriptures are completely TRUE in all that it teaches without any contradictions whatsoever. Our problem is in understanding Biblical Hermeneutics (Biblical interpretation) in grasping the truth of the scriptures.

First of all, when we see the word “Repent” in scripture, it can have several different meanings in the Hebrew language, Greek and in Aramaic. There are several passages in the Bible that will show God “repenting”, but this repenting is NOT the same “repenting” that Jesus preached in the New Testament.

The word “Repent” in Hebrew is Nacham (naw-kham) and it has several different uses. Its like English having different tenses. One use of this Hebrew word is called the “Niphal usage” (Ne-fall) which means to be moved to pity, have compassion, to extend favor or a better course of action, to extend graciousness, and to extend good or a better benefit.

Another usage of the Hebrew word Nacham is called the Hithpael usage (hith-pay-el) which means to regret, be sorry for, turn from self, and to change. It important to note, that this usage has reference to an action and a change in character as resulting from the action. In other words, if God were to repent in this manner, he would NOT be God at all! It would automatically indicate that God changes in his character. This is NOT true of Him!

“…For I am the LORD, I change not….” Malachi 3:6

The word “Change” here is the Hebrew word, Shanah (shaw-naw) which means to transmute (alter in form, appearance, or nature), to do or speak double, to perform a second time (as to fix the first).

How many times do we as parents set out to chasten our children with the rod of correction, but decide to lessen the punishment due to our own feelings of compassion for our children? This doesn’t mean that we have not or will not correct them, but it does mean that our course of action will not be as severe as originally intended. In this instance, our children have found our grace, and we were moved to pity them (which is same as finding a greater sense of our love, compassion and mercy).

“…Like as a father pity’s his children, so the LORD pity’s them that fear him…” Psalm 103:13

Now let me make a few more important points about this subject that has blessed me….

We first see God (seemingly) “repenting” in Genesis 6. It was in this chapter that God was grieved with the sin that was in the earth. In verse 6, it is recorded that “…God repented that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart….”

The next time we see this kind of “repenting” of God is in Exodus 32. It was in this chapter where the Children of Israel (being influenced by Aaron) built a golden image to worship as their god, instead of the God who just brought them out of the land of bondage/Egypt. When God thought to destroy them in their wickedness, Moses sought for the Lord’s pardoning. In Verse 14, the Bible said, “…And the LORD repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people. …”

We see this in other passages as well (Judges 2:11-23; 1st Samuel 15:10-35; 2nd Samuel 24:10-25; Amos 7:1-10; Jonah 3:1-10; Jeremiah 15:1-7), however, it is important to notice that in each of these passages God is disturbed by the interruption in relationship, as well as grieved by the actions resulting in the breakdown in the relationship. God in ALL of these passages was ALWAYS seeking a relationship to share HIS Divine Nature. Furthermore, it is a RELATIONSHIP (as depicted in an INTERCESSORY conversation/prayer) that causes Him to change his course of action in EVERY Biblical account. To prove this point, I’ll use the passages we just look at.

In Genesis 6, we see that it was the actions of God’s creation toward HIM that grieved him. God was seeking (in the preceding verses) a relationship with His people, but (in Verse 5) we read about the breakdown in relationship ….

“…And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually….”

However, it was another relationship that causes God to change His course of action. In verse 7 we see that God decided to destroy the ENTIRE creation (ENTIRE, would have included EVERYONE an EVERYTHING), but in verses 8-9 we read about the relationship that would cause God to change His course of action….

“…But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD… Noah was a just man and perfect in his generation, and Noah walked with God….”

Noah’s relationship with God was such that it appealed to another aspect of God’s nature: His Mercy! It was through the life of Noah that God replenished the earth and used him to complete His purpose.

In Exodus 32, we see how the Children of Israel had turned from God to build and worship another god, and it wasn’t until then that God decided to destroy ALL of them. In verse 10, God told Moses….

“…Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them….”

However, in verses 11-14 the Bible shows the INTERCESSORY relationship that would cause God to change His course of action….

And Moses besought the LORD his God, and said, LORD, why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people, which thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power, and with a mighty hand?... Turn from thy fierce wrath, and REPENT of this evil against thy people…Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swore by thine own self, and said unto them, I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed, and they shall inherit it for ever… And the LORD REPENTED of the evil which he thought to do unto his people….”

These passages teach us several very IMPORTANT principles about God. One, His FIRST objective with ALL of us is for a RELATIONSHIP whereby we can learn and experience HIS Divine Nature. Secondly, it is due to our own actions toward God which causes Him to deal with us according to the part of His nature that we are appealing to. If our actions are contrary to what He demands from us, then we appeal to His wrath (which is a part of His Nature). God is as much a God of wrath as He is a God of Love. If our actions are pleasing to Him, then we appeal to other aspects of His Nature (love, mercy, healing, provision, etc).

Thirdly, I have found a greater significance and importance to the need for INTERCESSORY PRAYER!!! Christians EVERYWHERE should come to know the difference between “Prayer” and “Intercession.” In short, one could pray but NOT necessarily be interceding (which is not a bad thing, but it is also not a good long-term practice). The Apostle Paul said in his first letter to Timothy….

“…I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, INTERCESSIONS, and giving of thanks, be made for all men….” 1st Timothy 2:1

While “intercession” is also praying, it is NOT the form of prayer that is “self-focused”, but seeks the attention of God on behalf of another person, people, community, country, etc.

The word “Intercession”, is the Greek word Enteuxis (ent'-yook-sis) which means to fall in with, agree with, and to come together for a discourse (or conversation… with God) or for any other active cause.

This is NOT mere “Praying” as most of us do from day to day, which is the Greek word Proseuche (pros-yoo-khay) which is a solitary conversation addressed to God, a place set a part for solitude, consolation, privacy, the offering of personal value, the place of sanctuary, rest, covering, and comfort. Please note that this word indicates a place where we are alone, on behalf of ourselves alone, and with God alone.

Now, I am NOT communicating this as a “bad” place to be. We ALL should be in prayer for ourselves, if nothing more than to develop our keenness for the voice and nature of God in our own lives. However, the deeper and more corporately productive place is in the place of INTERCESSION, where I “fall in and agree with” the lives of other Saints – a place where I come together with other people, communities and regions to have a conversation with God on OUR behalf (not just my own behalf). This is also the place where we come together for other ACTIVE causes of intercession (like outreach efforts, helping someone out of a crisis, etc).

Finally, God will ALWAYS perform according to what His nature calls for, but WE as INTERCESSORS can beckon God to change His course action (repent) by how we appeal to another part of His Nature. Therefore, let us ALL come together and INTERCEDE one for another!

“…And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor….” Isaiah 59:16

“…Who is he that condemns? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us….” Romans 8:34

Grace & Peace
Roc