The Changeability of God

So in the techno-babble of the faith, the technical language of theology (of thinking about God), we have a special word to describe how God is unchangeable. That special word is “immutable”. What that means, essentially, is that God is the same in the past, in the present, into the future and forever. It is meant as an assurance of the consistency of God as a loving, forgiving, merciful creator. This is in contrast to the many other 'gods' of the Biblical times who are mean, petty, jealous, and just plain awful to humans. The Greek gods jump to mind in this regard.

But in Jonah, God changes God’s mind. Nineveh is evil and destined for destruction. Jonah tells them as much. But then, when they repent, Jonah is greatly disappointed because God does not carry through on God’s Word. They were doomed and then undoomed. What the heaven God? You are unchanging except that this expresses…a change…

The book of Jonah provides only one example of this. There are other places where God is recorded as changing God’s mind. The ones that come readily to mind are God’s communications with Moses. The people were stubborn disobedient jerks. There are a number of times when God is prepared to destroy them only to be turned from wrath by the prayers of Moses. It looks like God is “mutable” in those moments. How are we to understand that?

I believe we are to understand it not in divine terms but in human terms. God is immutable, unchanging. Obey God and be blessed. Disobey and be punished. Good is rewarded, evil, not so much. In terms of Nineveh, it was not God who changed, but the Ninevites. Jonah’s prophetic utterances struck a nerve, caused a change. So it is across Scripture.

The wages of sin are death. Paul says that. From Genesis to Revelation, that does not change. God does not change. Rather, God seeks change in us. The Ninevites repented and turned from their evil ways. That is the sign that Jesus references when he talks about Jonah in Luke 11 and Matthew 12. In fact, that is the whole point of Jesus’ death and resurrection. It provides for the FREE GIFT of salvation for those who give their lives to the Lord. Those who repent. Those who seek to follow the way of love.

I will say it again. God does not change. Rather, God desires change in us. Those who turn against God are subject to punishment. Those who repent are welcomed into the grace of our God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Mercy is God’s gift. Jesus is God’s gift. That does not change. God is immutable, God’s love, mercy, grace, and forgiveness is trustworthy and true. It is a gift offered to us that we may receive to change our lives. In Him.

Peace,

Pastor Peter