10 When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it. (Jonah 3:10).
Before I dedicated my life to Christ, I attended a home Bible study where this verse from Jonah was used to show God changes His mind. Even before I knew God, I had problems with this interpretation of the passage. I found several others bothered me too. Eventually I came across Jeremiah 18:7,8:
7 If at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom, that I will pluck up and break down and destroy it, 8 and if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I intended to do to it. (Jer. 18:7,8)
So, one of God’s principles is “If you repent, you will be forgiven.” God always stands by His principles. He is the same today, yesterday, and always. His nature is to forgive those who will repent, no matter what command or promise they have broken. Noah said “40 days and Nineveh would be overthrown,” but the Ninevites repented. They were, therefore, forgiven.
Then there’s this problematic passage:
In those days Hezekiah became sick and was at the point of death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him, and said to him, “Thus says the Lord: Set your house in order, for you shall die, you shall not recover.” (Isa 38:1)
“Go and say to Hezekiah, Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father: I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Behold, I will add fifteen years to your life. (Isa. 38:5)
This isn’t a nation repenting, it’s a king begging God for a longer life so Jeremiah 18 doesn’t apply. I’ve really had a problem with this passage over the years. All I can see here is God showing us what happens if He were to grant our prayer, a prayer which is against His will.
There are some minor arguments for God’s actions in this passage: God didn’t say when Hezekiah would die is the best I’ve found. Therefore there is no contradiction. 2 Kings 5,6 would disagree. It records the same story but adds just enough to demolish that argument:
5 “Turn back, and say to Hezekiah the leader of my people, Thus says the LORD, the God of David your father: I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Behold, I will heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the LORD, 6 and I will add fifteen years to your life. I will deliver you and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria, and I will defend this city for my own sake and for my servant David’s sake.”
Hezekiah had a son, Manasseh, during the additional 15 years God had granted him. Manasseh took the throne at age 12 upon Hezekiah’s death and ruled for 59 years. He was the longest ruling king in Judah. Manasseh was a horrible king. He turned Judah back to idolatry even sacrificing his own son to these gods (2 Kings 21:2-16) causing God to curse both Manasseh and Judah.
So, if Hezekiah had simply died, Manasseh would not have been born, and perhaps Judah would have continued with the example of Hezekiah, a pretty righteous king. What I get from the story of Hezekiah is not so much that God seemed to change His mind but that our prayers should always end with “Your will be done, Lord.”
Who are we to ask God to change His mind/will. When you think about it, it’s actually a pretty arrogant and stupid thing to do. If He did change His mind, would His new view be better or worse than the last? If God is all powerful and all knowing, He would know what is best and that would be His plan. If we were to ask for something different, we would be asking for something worse than what God has planned for us.
So, what I get from the story of Hezekiah is a lesson in prayer not a lesson about whether God can change His mind.
Why is this important?
Some Christians read passages like the two above, and want to change God’s mind for what they perceive is their benefit. How can anything other than God’s benevolent plan for us be better?
God doesn’t change His mind. His will is the standard for what is best for us. Let us never pray against God’s will thinking we have a better idea. Thinking He does change His mind would call His promises into question. God keeps His promises!
There is a rule in Bible study: “When a passage seems to contradict the common message of the Bible, go with the preponderance of passages. Chances are you’re misunderstanding the passage in question. The preponderance of passages say God doesn’t change His mind; He is unchanging (Mal. 3:6; Num. 23:19; James 1:17; 1 Sam. 15:29; Ps. 33:11; Heb. 6:18; Isa. 40:8; John 17:17; Ps. 119:89; Heb. 7:21; Titus 1:2; and so on), so I’m going with the preponderance.
God is consistent. We need not ever fear. He does not change His mind and will forever keep His promises. He is our God whom we serve and the only God with Whom we have to do.
Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good thing bestowed and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation, or shifting shadow. (James 1:16-17)
Believers Armed and Dangerous 