We need to remind ourselves that the only way we can understand God is in our limited human terms which many times inhibits us from grasping His true meaning in His written Word. We don’t have God’s perspective nor God’s mind to think as He does. Because of this, there are times we’ll come across Scripture that seems to contradict or not make sense. I’ve learned this is a red flag that I am not seeing the whole picture. I have to go to the original author to ask for His wisdom and understanding.
Sometimes further digging into God’s Word gives a clearer picture, but if not, I’ve more learning before I can grasp the particular meaning. That’s where faith comes in. Some truths of God take time to understand. We cannot jump to conclusions. The more we study and grow with God though, the clearer God’s Word becomes and the less we find contradictions. Still, this side of heaven we’ll never have much of a grasp of His infinite knowledge, but our purpose is to learn all we can while we are here.
Reading that the God of the universe does not change His mind is comforting (Num. 23:19; Mal. 3:6; Jas. 1:17). I don’t want Him to deal with me on impulse. But it doesn’t take much further reading to find that there are just as many verses that show instances where God did change His mind (Ex. 32:14; Amos 7:3; Job 3:10). How can this be? Does this mean that His promises can change too? It brings up a lot of security issues. It appears the infallible Word of God is contradicting itself! So is this truly a contradiction or are we looking at Scripture in our own limited human terms and missing a valuable lesson from God?
I suggest turning to Jeremiah 18:1-12. In this passage, the Lord is comparing His actions towards Israel to that of a potter molding his clay on the potter’s wheel. “Behold, like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel. At one moment I might speak concerning a nation or concerning a kingdom to uproot, to pull down, or to destroy; if that nation against which I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent concerning the calamity I planned to bring on it” (v.6b-8). Is this the words of a whimsical God working on impulse? No, I don’t think so.
The potter holds the clay in His hands as it spins on the potter’s wheel. It takes the potter’s skill and artistry to produce a useable pot. Some pots are formed very quickly without much effort as if appearing out of thin air. Others start spinning and as the potter works, the clay falls within his hands or parts of the clay grow too thin and the potter must start over or add more clay.
This process is parallel to our lives with God as our Potter and we as His clay. When we are obedient to God, He can mold us and make us into His workmanship with ease. We become a useable testimony for Him in His work. Other times, He struggles with us. Our disobedience causes us to not work smoothly in His hands. But the Master is patient. He gives us every opportunity to be molded. Sometimes we don’t turn into what He started out creating, but He still works to mold us into something that is useful. That is not due to God “changing His mind” but our tussling with the potter in His hands. Other times, we struggle so much that God has to set us aside until we are ready to be molded. He thankfully understands the idea of good and adversity. He understands our struggles and so He works with us and molds us each individually at our own speed.
I do not see God changing His mind in the same context that we change ours. There is a bit of mystery behind God’s mind. God has a plan for each one of us. He sets out to mold us into that perfect work of art. At the same time, He knows how much of that plan each of us will fulfill. He will not push His will for us on the wheel. Instead, He will relent and ease up in His working if we tussle too strongly. Then again, we may choose not to be molded so He “changes His mind,” and either puts us aside or turns us into something else. God is what molds us and makes us into His workmanship. But we are the ones that determine how successful He will be in His work by our obedience or lack thereof.
If you read other Scriptures where God “changed His mind,” you will find that man’s disobedience changed God’s plan at the wheel. Other times God is prepared to pass judgment but an obedient heart will cause Him to pull back and continue to mold. God is not whimsical. He keeps His promises (Deut. 7:9). But He relents at the potter’s wheel depending on how well we choose to be molded and shaped.