Numbers 23:19: How do we reconcile “God is not a man...that he should repent” with passages elsewhere depicting God changing His mind (e.g., Genesis 6:6)? 1. Introduction Numbers 23:19 declares: “God is not man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should change His mind.” This statement raises a question when compared with passages such as Genesis 6:6: “And the LORD regretted that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.” On the surface, it may appear contradictory for God to be portrayed as never changing His mind in one place yet “regretting” or “relenting” in another. This entry will explore the relevant biblical texts, highlight Hebrew word usage, and offer a coherent explanation of how these statements fit together in Scripture. 2. Key Passages and Their Context “God is not man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should change His mind. Does He speak and not act? Does He promise and not fulfill?” The immediate context finds the prophet Balaam affirming that God is utterly trustworthy and cannot be manipulated as humans can. Balaam insists that God’s nature transcends human fallibility, emphasizing that God’s pronouncements and promises stand firmly. b) Genesis 6:6 “And the LORD regretted that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.” Here the text describes God’s deep sorrow over humanity’s pervasive wickedness. Some translations use the terms “regretted” or “repented,” suggesting a change of heart regarding His decision to create humankind. However, the Hebrew term involved often conveys a sense of grief or sorrow rather than a literal reversal of God’s unchangeable plan. c) Other Illustrative Passages • 1 Samuel 15:29: “Also the Glory of Israel does not lie or change His mind, for He is not a man, that He should change His mind.” • Jonah 3:10: “…He relented of the disaster He had declared He would bring upon them.” Such texts illuminate the broader question of how divine repentance or regret functions in Scripture. 3. The Hebrew Terminology (נחם – nāḥam) The Hebrew verb often translated “repent,” “relent,” or “regret” is נָחַם (nāḥam). Its semantic range includes: • To feel sorrow or grief. • To relent concerning a course of action. • To offer comfort. In passages describing God “repenting,” the term more precisely connotes divine sorrow over humanity’s sinful condition. Rather than implying God made a mistake, the expression highlights God’s emotional response from a vantage point accessible to human understanding. 4. The Doctrine of God’s Immutability Throughout Scripture, God is consistently depicted as unchanging in His character, holiness, purposes, and promises. For instance, Malachi 3:6 states: “I, the LORD, do not change.” James 1:17 reinforces that in God there is “no variation or shifting shadow.” These verses support the truth that God’s nature remains constant and reliable. However, Scripture also portrays God responding personally and intimately to the moral state of humanity. Such language conveys a dynamic relationship rather than any instability in God’s purposes. 5. Anthropomorphic Language Biblical authors frequently employ anthropomorphic language to describe God in ways human readers can grasp. References to God’s “hands,” “eyes,” or experiencing “grief” provide familiar analogies but do not limit Him to human weaknesses or ignorance. Likewise, when Scripture says God “repents,” “relents,” or is “grieved,” it reflects real feelings consistent with His righteous character. Yet these descriptions do not imply He vacillates in His moral will or overarching plan. 6. Harmonizing the Passages a) God’s Unchanging Character vs. God’s Relational Dealings Numbers 23:19 and passages like 1 Samuel 15:29 affirm God’s reliability in accomplishing His declared promises. Genesis 6:6, conversely, highlights God’s sorrow at humanity’s wickedness, a sorrow that prompts action (the Flood) while still fulfilling His broader plan of redemption through righteous Noah. b) The Perspective of Human Observation From a human viewpoint, divine actions can appear as changes of mind. Yet at the foundational level, God’s eternal decree remains constant. As time-bound creatures, we observe God engaging with the world in real time, and Scripture often describes these dealings in language we can understand—sometimes rendered as regret or relenting. c) The Consistent Message of Scripture Taken as a whole, biblical teaching emphasizes both God’s eternal immutability and His empathetic responsiveness to moral conditions on earth. His changing actions reflect new phases of His unchanging plan—referred to in theological terms as “accommodated language.” 7. Theological and Philosophical Reflections a) Maintaining God’s Omniscience and Sovereignty God’s sovereignty extends to knowing the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10). Therefore, events that surprise humans do not surprise the Almighty. His “regret” expresses displeasure and grief over wrongdoing, reinforcing His holiness, yet it does not conflict with His perfect foreknowledge. b) Human Freedom and Divine Interaction Scripture portrays divine-human relationships in which humans are responsible for their moral choices, and God’s interactions reflect His consistent justice and mercy. Such portrayals enhance the depth of God’s personal engagement without undermining His supreme authority. 8. Scriptural and Archaeological Defense of the Texts Through numerous surviving manuscripts, such as the Dead Sea Scrolls, the consistency and accuracy of Numbers and Genesis have been well preserved. Manuscript evidence (e.g., the Dead Sea Scrolls’ fragmentary but significant witness to the Pentateuch) upholds the integrity of the biblical text. These findings reinforce that the portrayal of God’s immutability, alongside His relational expressions like sorrow, remains intact and reliable. Additionally, archaeological corroboration of regions in the Ancient Near East supports historical details of the Flood narrative in Genesis and the authenticity of the biblical chronology. Though debates persist regarding dating, the broad outline of Genesis 6–9 aligns with numerous global flood traditions and geological markers in certain regions, evidences that can prompt further inquiry into the reliability of Scripture. 9. Practical Implications a) Trust in God’s Unchanging Promises Believers can take comfort that God’s promises do not waver. As Balaam declared, God does not speak and fail to act. His assurances of salvation (John 3:16) and eternal life (1 John 5:13) remain certain. b) Encouragement in Prayer and Repentance Accounts of God’s “relenting” encourage individuals to take seriously the call to prayer and repentance. While God’s nature and ultimate plan remain steadfast, He lovingly calls people to turn from sin and demonstrates compassion in response to such appeals (see Jonah 3). 10. Conclusion The reconciliations of Numbers 23:19 with passages describing God as “repenting” demonstrate a broader biblical theme: God’s holy character does not change, yet He profoundly relates to His creation. Expressing sorrow or regret over sin does not undermine God’s immutability; rather, it shows His personal engagement and moral concern. The shared witness of Scripture, supported by reliable manuscript evidence and archaeological insights, upholds the harmony of God’s transcendent, unchanging nature and His responsive dealings with humanity. |
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