Does God change His mind?
Listen: 153.2
The answer is: YES and NO! God does change His mind at times, but only when the “responsibility of man” is concerned. But when God makes “unconditional promises” they are not subject to change.
To illustrate, 1 Samuel 15:11 reads, “It repenteth Me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following Me, and hath not performed my commandments.” Later, in verse 29, it says, “And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for He is not a man, that He should repent.” In verse 11 God “repented,” or “changed His mind” because Saul had failed to obey Him. In verse 29 it is stated emphatically that God does not “repent,” because David is in view and His purposes of grace toward David would never allow Him to “change His mind.” Though God had allowed Saul to be king, David was His real choice and all of God’s purposes concerning David would come to pass because they were rooted in His sovereign grace and not in David’s obedience.
Every believer needs to lay hold of this precious truth, for if God has given us an unconditional promise, He will NEVER CHANGE HIS MIND! Why? Because His promise is based on His faithfulness and not on ours. Romans 11:29 states, “For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.” God is speaking in this chapter about His unconditional promises to Israel and how in a future day they will be delivered from their enemies and brought into blessing. His purpose to bless them is NOT based on their faithfulness, but on His unconditional love and grace. We can apply this verse to us also, for every promise God has made to us will be fulfilled; He will NEVER CHANGE HIS MIND! One of His greatest promises to us is found in Titus 1:2, “In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began.” God has promised every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ eternal life! Titus assures us that God “cannot lie,” and we saw in 1 Samuel 15:29 that God “will not lie nor repent.” Praise be to God for His purposes for us and promises to us, and that He will NEVER CHANGE HIS MIND! (153.2) (DO)