An Excellent Choice
So the LORD changed His mind about the harm which He said He would do to His people. Exodus 32:14
Changed His mind – Twelve times in Scripture the words naham YHWH ‘al hara’a describe God’s action.[1] Each one is particularly bothersome. The problem is that the verb naham is primarily about influencing a situation by changing the course of events, rejecting an obligation or refraining from some action. Any of these seem at odds with the doctrine that God is unchanging (immutable), omniscient (knows everything) and perfect (has no need to change at all). This instance is perhaps the most troubling of all of them. Why? Because in this case it appears that Moses argues God out of something that God wanted and intended to do. You might recognize the last word in the phrase, ha’ra. Yes, that’s right. It’s the Hebrew word for “evil” (remember yetzer ha’ra?). God intends to do something which Moses believes is evil, namely, to exterminate the disobedient and rebellious people and start over with Moses. Moses tells God, “No, You can’t do that,” and God changes His mind.
Well, actually the translation “changed His mind” is much more Greek than Hebrew.[2] The Hebrew phrase really means something like “altered His purpose.” Its locus is in the action God is going to take, not in the cognitive decision God makes. What God was going to do He does not do. The problem is two-fold. First, of course, is the difficulty with understanding how a God who knows everything and is unchangeable actually changes. The usual answer is the claim that this is anthropomorphic language (it just appears like a human emotion for our sake). But there are significant issues with this pat answer. The second problem is why God changes. In this case, it appears that God changes in order to placate Moses. What? Can this be true? God alters His behavior based on some argument by a human being? You might say, “But, of course. God does change His plans and purposes according to human conditions and requests.” From the perspective of a believer’s experience, this seems absolutely true. But it drives theologians crazy. This experience with God does not square with most doctrinal statements about God’s perfection or omniscience. If you wonder how all this could have happened and why no one seems to be too upset about it, then maybe you’re ready to read this.
Nevertheless, while we’re wrestling with the theological issues, the phrase naham YHWH ‘al hara’a is a very comforting one. It has three important implications for us. First, it demonstrates that God responds to our concerns. His purposes are not so fixed from eternity that they aren’t subject to modification due to human anxiety. God cares – and He acts on that care. Secondly, this phrase tells us that it isn’t over until it’s over. There is always room for God to change His purposes. His passion to forgive can override our stubbornness – and it often does, thank the Lord. Finally, this phrase tells us to never give up. Abraham doesn’t give up on Sodom. Moses doesn’t give up on Israel. Yeshua doesn’t give up on us. Neither should we. God listens, and naham ‘al hara’a.
Topical Index: naham, repent, change, alter, Exodus 32:14
[1] The Hebrew phrase is modified in a few cases but the syntagmene is essentially the same.
[2] The LXX translates the verse “And the Lord was propitiated concerning the harm that he said he would do.” Notice that this translation makes it appear that Moses’ argument appeased God. This puts Moses on the moral high ground, reminding God about being holy. Are we to imagine that Moses has to talk God out of doing something evil?
Dear Skip, you touched really my heart with this article!
One thing is for sure: God’s character will never ever change. But if we proclaim together with the psalmist in psalm 145 the character of God, then I fully agree with your Today’s Word. God bless you
One thing is for sure: God’s character will never ever change.
There’s more than one way to get the job done. There’s good and then there’s better. Moses appeals to the better way when he says to YHVH ;
Ex.32:11 ‘LORD, why doth Thy wrath wax hot against Thy people, that Thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand?
12 Wherefore should the Egyptians speak, saying: For evil did He bring them forth, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth? Turn from Thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against Thy people.
13 Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, Thy servants, to whom Thou didst swear by Thine own self, and saidst 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.’
Moses reminds YHVH and encourages Him to stay the course. He’s actually bringing YHVH back to the original plan. Is he being a good Adam keeping his ezer from abandoning the original design which will accomplish all that YHVH wants?
(De.4:5 Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the LORD my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it.
6 Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.
7 For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the YHVH our God is in all things that we call upon him for?
8 And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?)
and not bring slander to His glorious name even though the slander would technically be unwarranted?
Is.63:9 In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.
10 But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them.
11 Then he remembered the days of old, Moses, and his people, saying, Where is he that brought them up out of the sea with the shepherd of his flock? where is he that put his holy Spirit within him?
12 That led them by the right hand of Moses with his glorious arm, dividing the water before them,
{to make himself an everlasting name?}
13 That led them through the deep, as an horse in the wilderness, that they should not stumble?
14 As a beast goeth down into the valley, the Spirit of the LORD caused him to rest: so didst thou lead thy people,
{to make thyself a glorious name.}
Moses is reminding YHVH that His promise needs to be accomplished in an unchanging way.
I wish I had time to go a little further on this but I’m running to work.
Shalom
What we have displayed before us (via Abraham/Moses) is intercessory prayer. If G-d already has his mind made up upon a particular course of action, why bother praying (in this case, interceding) at all?
This is the fun part. We (all) will find, (it will take some of us longer than others- case in point- me) in the end, – “G-d is good.” All the time. And to everyone. He changes not. “He is (always) good.”
Listen (attentively) to this noise: “For the LORD is good, His mercy (chesed- lovingkindnesses) endure forever, (forever is a long time, folks) and His faithfulness (read covenant love) endures to all generations. (Psalm 100.5)
Everything (yes, everything) G-d thinks, says and does is “perfect.” “He doeth all things well” the scripture says. “And we know (yes, experientially) all things (are in the process of) working together for the good (G-d’s idea of good) of those who love G-d, to them who are the called (called by His name and are in covenant-union with the Messiah) according to His purpose. (Romans 8.28)
Do you remember Someone saying, “thou shalt love the LORD thy G-d with all thy heart, soul, mind and strength?” (I was weaned on KJV as a young sprout). Folks, all things (are in the process of) working together for the good of them who love G-d.” – Do you love Him? (who first loved us?) Do you?
(and yes,- do I?). And again, (remembering what He said)- “If you love me, keep my commandments”. Every “commandment” of G-d says, -“help yourself to happiness” and every “thou shalt not” says “do yourself no harm.” Have we seen this to be true? Can I get an amen (or two?) or will we sit here in stunned silence. “Let the redeemed of the LORD say so”- Amein! (I hate it when I have to amen myself..) lol!
So, what is G-d’s character? Holy, (perfect) love. Please,please, attempt to plumb the depths, (we are incapable) of “For G-d so loved.” Everything (everything) G-d has done, is doing, and will do, is motived by Holy Love. Why did G-d create this green planet? Why did G-d created the first lady? Why is G-d building a bride for His Son? Why will we enjoy a feast and a party, a “royal wedding” that will last for eternity? “..that in the coming ages He might show the incomparable riches of His grace, expressed in His kindness (chesed) to us in Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 2.7)
And now, for your “dining and dancing pleasure” we present: http://endtimepilgrim.org/marriage.htm
You, dear ones, have been issued an invitation. (“..whosoever will may come!) -Will you attend?
Hello, Pastor I thank God for our lives and yours specially because you’ve been used as a light in mine. But today while reading the above message there is a phrase that is kind of troublesome in my heart is when you say that there is always room for God to change His purpose specially when His purpose has always been to give us a future and a hope and that He doesn’t want our death if not that we all come to know Him. Is there a better purpose than that? But what I do understand is that there is always room for Him not to punish us accordingly to what we deserve and that He is ready to forgive us. Believe me I understood everything else but I wanted to express my concern on that part. Bless you, Benny de Brugal.
—But what I do understand is that there is always room for Him not to punish us accordingly to what we deserve and that He is ready to forgive us. Believe me I understood everything else but I wanted to express my concern on that part. Bless you, Benny de Brugal.—
Brother Benny (and others..)- If G-d were to punish us according to what we deserve, we would all be smoldering ashes. Much good news here: G-d does not punish us, He chastises us. There is a world of difference in the two. Chastisement (of my own children) is always with a view toward correcting their behavior. This is why we are chastised by our heavenly Father- always with a view toward correction and instruction in righteousness (right behavior). More good news: Yeshua took our full punishment at Calvary. The full force and fury of the wrath of G-d towards sin was poured out on the Sin Bearer during the crucifixion. He took upon Himself and paid for (in full) my hell and your hell. Jesus “paid it all,” friends. (And yes, all to Him I owe..)
Everything G-d says or does is motivated by His tender mercies and unending love. When will we learn to listen to Him? What will He do in order to get our attention?
Skip,
Is it possible that G-d doesn’t really change his mind, but, by stating a potential punishment, He allows his children to reconsider and hopefully change THEIR behavior. When (if) they do (which He knew they would,) the punishment might be lessened or avoided??
Perhaps WE are the ones who change. Not G-d.
I say “Amen” Judi; my thinking is along those same lines. My apologies for responding so late, but it has been a rather busy past few days. Let’s consider that an all-knowing God knew that by delaying Moses on the mountain those people down there would convince Aaron to fashion a golden calf for them, and that they would dance around it and generally act like fools. Let us also consider that this all-loving God would want to show the objects of His love how their foolish actions would affect their relationship by declaring the punishment resulting from said actions. May we also consider that this all-knowing God’s purpose in doing this is to allow Moses to see for himself his own love and resulting intercession for his fellow man, and his trust in a God who when He makes a promise He keeps it. Finally, we see an all-knowing God who knows of the countless millions who will take something away from this lesson taught many years ago on a desert mountain.
“His purposes are not so fixed from eternity that they aren’t subject to modification due to human anxiety.”
This is the very debate held in Eden. When the tempter came to Eve he caused her to question God’s eternal decree: “Yea, hath God said?” He implication being, of course, that not only has He said it in the first place, but is He really able to bring it about.
The question in essence was this one: are the events of this world controlled from within the creation or from outside of it? Eve wanted to “be like God” the ultimate determiner of truth, error and what comes to pass in both time and eternity, so that God would become a “tool” in the hands of sovereign man, reacting to man’s “free” will. It is the wishful thinking of mankind that the attributes of God now accrue to him, and that man now ultimately determines not only events in time, but also ultimately determines God’s activity so He must become the divine Responder, rather than being the great Initiator. This was Eve’s temptation, and she gave in to it, the “original sin” we all find so difficult to remove.
It was only when Nebuchzdnezzar was returned to “right thinking” that he could declare:
34. At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever, for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation;
35. all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, “What have you done?”
36. At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and splendor returned to me. My counselors and my lords sought me, and I was established in my kingdom, and still more greatness was added to me.
37. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble.
I am not sure if you are agreeing or disagreeing. Let’s start with the Hebrew text of the serpent’s question. Unfortunately, the English rendition sends us in the wrong direction. The serpent does not question God’s sovereignty. He does not ask, “Did God say?” The text states, “God said,” indicating that the serpent endorses God’s command and thereby implicitly endorses God’s sovereignty. The issue is not if God is in charge but whether or not human freedom will be used for the purposes of fulfilling human desires rather than God’s desires. The issue is a moral, not an ontological, one. The serpent appeals to Havvah’s desire to be the protector and provider for Adam, implying that she can IMPROVE her abilities by choosing to determine what is good and evil for herself. In my opinion (considered, my you), this is the point where disobedience redirects God’s tactics. I am not suggesting that God did not anticipate such an event, but I am saying that until the event occurred it was only a possibility, not an actuality, and therefore, it’s occurrence altered the direction God took to bring about full friendship with His creation.
HaSatan, (also known as Mr. Twister) took the words of G-d and altered them, ever so slightly. From “G-d hath said.” (Yes, He really did say that.. remember?), to “hath G-d said?” This ever so slight modification or “twisting” was quite subtle. Eve didn’t catch it as she was distracted by the lure or lustre of the forbidden fruit. Adam was also there and (a) failed to remember the words of the LORD, or (b) failed to speak the words of G-d, or (c)- both.
This “hath G-d said” was the introduction of the demon of doubt. “Did G-d really say that?” Surely not. No way!- G-d would never say a thing like that!- Oh c’mon.. -please.. Oh my friends!- G-d always (always) says what He means and means what He says. You want “straight talk?”- Go to G-d and listen to what He has said. All His words are true and faithful- Amen?
The prayer of Nebuchadnezzar should be our prayer as well. “Return us also Abba, to “right, clear-headed thinking” May the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in your sight- our Father. Remove from us our doubts and fears and enable and empower us to walk worthy of the Name by which we are called. Amen.