6.4 A Repenting God?
God’s Repentance – An Expression of His Mercy and Faithfulness

Read Exodus 32:14 and compare the verse with Jeremiah 18:4–10. What do you think of these descriptions of God “relenting”?

At first glance, it might seem contradictory that the Bible sometimes speaks of God “repenting” or “relenting.” After all, we have learned that the nature of God is unchanging (Malachi 3:6; James 1:17). But what does it mean when Exodus 32:14 says that “the LORD relented from the harm which He said He would do to His people”?

1. God’s “Regret” Is Not Human Regret

When humans repent, it is often because they have made a mistake or because a decision has turned out to be wrong. But God makes no mistakes and needs no course correction. 1 Samuel 15:29 states clearly:

“Also the Glory of Israel will not lie or change His mind; for He is not a man, that He should change His mind.”
This shows that God’s “regret” does not mean that He is in error or that unpredictable developments occur.

2. God’s Relenting Is an Expression of His Relationship with Us

God enters into a genuine relationship with people and responds to their behavior. Jeremiah 18:4–10 illustrates this using the analogy of a potter:

• When a people do evil, God may announce judgment. Yet, if they repent, God relents and forgives.

• Likewise, a people who are under God’s blessing can, through injustice, bring about their own downfall.

Thus, God’s “regret” means that He responds to human change without abandoning His moral principles. His character remains unchanged, but His actions can adjust in relation to the people.

3. God’s Mercy in Judgment

Perhaps the most striking example of God’s relenting is found in Jonah 3:10:

“And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented of the calamity that He had said He would bring upon them, and did not do it.”
God was ready to punish Nineveh, but the people repented – so He showed them grace. This demonstrates that God’s goal is not simply punishment but repentance and restoration.

4. What Does This Mean for Our Faith?

• God is not unmerciful or rigid; He hears our pleas. Our prayers and behavior have significance.

• His judgment is not arbitrary but a call to repentance. When people repent, God always shows grace.

• His response is an expression of His love. He does not act without feeling but with compassion and justice.

Conclusion: God’s Nature Remains the Same, but His Actions Are Relational
God’s “regret” does not mean that He makes mistakes or is indecisive. Rather, it shows that He is a living, merciful God who responds to repentance and can transform judgment into grace. This gives us hope: as long as we live, we always have the opportunity to turn back to God – and He will welcome us with open arms.

Read Numbers 23:19 and 1 Samuel 15:29. What do these verses say about whether God “relents” or “repents” or not?

These two verses reveal an essential truth about God’s nature: God is not like a man who changes His mind, lies, or is unreliable.

• Numbers 23:19:

“God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?”

• 1 Samuel 15:29:

“And also the Glory of Israel will not lie or change His mind; for He is not a man, that He should change His mind.”
These verses show that God’s decisions are not capricious or unpredictable. He remains always true to His nature and His promises. When God announces or promises something, He fulfills it.

1. Does This Mean That God Never “Relents”?

Although these verses clarify that God does not repent or change His mind in the human sense, there are Biblical passages (e.g., Exodus 32:14; Jeremiah 18:4–10; Jonah 3:10) that show that God can adjust His actions in response to human repentance.
This means:

• God remains true to Himself, but He responds to human decisions.

• His “relenting” is not uncertainty, but an expression of His mercy.

• When people change, God’s dealings with them change – though not His essence.

An example is the judgment against Nineveh (Jonah 3:10). God had announced punishment, but when the people repented, He withheld the judgment out of grace. This does not mean that He was indecisive, but that He always acts according to His principles of justice and love.

2. What Does This Mean for Our Faith?

• We can have absolute trust in God’s promises. He will never break His word.

• Our prayers and repentance matter. God listens and responds to genuine turning.

• God’s nature remains eternally the same – He is always just, faithful, and full of love.

Conclusion: God Remains the Same – In Faithfulness and Grace
God does not repent like a human because He is perfect. Yet in His justice and love, He is willing to adapt to the condition of humanity when they change. This shows His mercy without compromising His consistency. Thus, He remains our reliable rock – full of grace for all who turn to Him.

What Is the Significance of the Biblical Depictions of Divine “Relenting”? What Does This Say About the Consistency of God’s Nature, Aside from the Fact That God Enters Into Genuine Relationships of Giving and Receiving, Which Truly Make a Difference to Him?

The Bible describes several situations in which God seemingly “relents” or “repents,” especially when people show repentance or respond to God’s warnings. These depictions help us better understand God’s character and His relationship with people.

1. God’s “Relenting” Is an Expression of His Grace and Faithfulness

God does not act arbitrarily or without thought. His “relenting” does not occur because He makes mistakes or changes His mind, but because in His justice and mercy, He responds to the behavior of people.

• Exodus 32:14 – After Moses interceded for Israel, “the LORD relented from the harm” He had threatened. This shows that God takes prayers seriously and that His mercy outweighs His wrath.

• Jonah 3:10 – God had announced judgment on Nineveh, but when the people repented, “God relented from the calamity” and spared the city. This means that God’s judgment is neither rigid nor unmerciful but is intended to move people to repentance.

• Jeremiah 18:4–10 – God compares His actions to those of a potter reshaping a vessel. If a people change – either through repentance or sin – then God’s actions can correspondingly change.

These examples show that God’s “relenting” is a manifestation of His faithfulness and love. It does not mean that He contradicts Himself, but rather that He harmonizes His actions with His unchanging character of justice and grace.

2. God’s Nature Remains Unchanging – Yet His Relationship with People Is Alive

The Bible makes it clear that God’s nature is constant:

• Numbers 23:19 – “God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent.”

• 1 Samuel 15:29 – “Also the Glory of Israel will not lie or change His mind; for He is not a man, that He should change His mind.”

• James 1:17 – With God there is “no variation, neither shadow of turning.” These verses emphasize that God remains morally and character-wise constant. He is always just, faithful, and loving. His promises are reliable, and His plans will ultimately be fulfilled. But this does not mean that God is immovable or unapproachable. On the contrary, He engages in real relationships in which our actions matter.

3. Genuine Relationships with God Make a Difference

God’s “relenting” shows that He is not driven by distance or indifference, but that He maintains a living and genuine relationship with His creatures.

• God Hears Intercession – Moses, Abraham, and other Biblical figures influenced God’s actions through their prayers. This means: Our prayers matter!

• God Responds to Human Behavior – When people repent, God shows mercy. When they harden their hearts, He may bring judgment. This means: Our obedience or disobedience has real consequences.

• God Is Not Distant or Mechanical – He is not an impersonal law but a living God who cares for us and intervenes in our history.

God remains faithful – but He is also merciful. This dynamic shows His love and His willingness to meet us in genuine relationships.

Conclusion: God’s Nature Remains Constant, but His Actions Are Relational
The Biblical depictions of God’s “relenting” do not show an inconstant or fickle God but a God who is both just and full of mercy.

• His nature remains unchanging – He is always holy, faithful, and true.

• His actions are dynamic – He responds to repentance, prayer, and human behavior.

• Our relationship with God matters – our behavior influences how He deals with us because He takes us seriously.

This is a wonderful message: God remains the same – yet He meets us in genuine love and adjusts His actions not arbitrarily, but because He stands in a living relationship with us.

The fact that God “relents” or “repents” carries deep significance for our faith and daily life. It shows us that God is not a distant, unapproachable ruler, but a living, merciful Father who stands in a genuine relationship with us.

1. Prayers Have Real Significance

God hears our pleas and responds to our prayers. In Exodus 32:14, God “relented from the harm” after Moses interceded for Israel. This means:

• Our prayers are not useless. When we intercede for others, something can change.

• God takes our concerns seriously. He is not a rigid judge, but a loving Father who listens to His children.

• Through prayer, we can experience God’s mercy. When we approach Him with a sincere heart, the planned punishment can be transformed into grace.

Application in Daily Life: Pray not just mechanically, but with trust. Your prayers can make a difference!

2. Repentance Is Always Possible – God’s Judgment Is Not an End in Itself

The Bible repeatedly shows: God announces judgment to call people to repentance – not to punish them arbitrarily.

• Jonah 3:10 – The city of Nineveh was spared from destruction because its inhabitants repented.

• Jeremiah 18:4–10 – God declares that He can either punish or bless a people depending on how they behave. This means: Our decisions have consequences. When we turn away from God, He calls us to repentance. Yet, as soon as we turn to Him, He shows us grace and forgiveness.

Application in Daily Life: Never give up, no matter how far you have drifted from God. He is always ready to give you a second chance.

3. God’s Faithfulness Gives Us Security

Although God responds to our behavior, His nature never changes (Malachi 3:6). This means:

• His promises stand firm. He will never break His word or forsake us.

• His justice remains constant. He treats no one unfairly or arbitrarily.

• His love remains unchanging. No matter how we feel, God loves us with a steadfast love.

Application in Daily Life: Rely on God’s promises in the Bible. If He says He is there for you, then He is – even if you do not always feel it.

4. Our Relationship with God Is Alive, Not Mechanical

God is not an immovable judge but a God of relationship.

• He longs for us to connect with Him.

• He rejoices when we seek Him.

• He shows mercy when we turn to Him. This means: Our life with God is not static but dynamic. We can talk with Him, get to know Him better, and experience how He responds to our decisions.

Application in Daily Life: Do not see God as a distant ruler, but as a Father who loves you and lives with you. Seek Him in prayer and in everyday life – and you will see how He acts.

Conclusion: A God Who Takes Us Seriously
God’s “relenting” is not a sign of weakness or indecision, but an expression of His mercy and faithfulness. He is ready to respond to us without abandoning His principles.

• Prayer can influence God’s actions.

• Repentance is always possible.

• God’s faithfulness gives us security.

• Our relationship with God is alive.

This encourages us to live actively with God – with trust, hope, and devotion.

God’s faithfulness is constant – even when we change, His love and grace remain unchanged.

Source: https://fulfilleddesire.net/lesson-6-gods-love-of-justice-6-4-a-repenting-god-the-god-of-love-and-justice-living-faith/