Topical Bible: Repentance: Attributed to God

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In the Scriptures, the concept of repentance is primarily associated with human beings turning away from sin and returning to God. However, there are instances where repentance is attributed to God, which can be perplexing given the divine nature of God as unchanging and perfect. This entry explores the theological implications and scriptural references where repentance is ascribed to God, emphasizing His relational dynamics with humanity.

Scriptural References

1. Genesis 6:6-7: "And the LORD regretted that He had made man on the earth, and it grieved Him in His heart. So the LORD said, 'I will blot out man, whom I have created, from the face of the earth—every man and beast and crawling creature and bird of the air—for I am grieved that I have made them.'"

In this passage, the term "regretted" is often understood as God expressing sorrow over the wickedness of humanity. It reflects a relational response to human sin rather than a change in God's eternal purpose or character.

2. Exodus 32:14: "So the LORD relented from the calamity He had threatened to bring on His people."

Here, God's relenting is in response to Moses' intercession for Israel after the incident of the golden calf. This demonstrates God's willingness to respond to human repentance and intercession, highlighting His mercy and compassion.

3. 1 Samuel 15:11: "I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned away from following Me and has not carried out My instructions."

God's regret over Saul's kingship is a reflection of Saul's failure to obey God's commands. It underscores the conditional nature of God's blessings based on human obedience and faithfulness.

4. Jeremiah 18:7-10: "At any time I might announce that a nation or kingdom will be uprooted, torn down, and destroyed. But if that nation I warned turns from its evil, then I will relent of the disaster I had planned to bring. And if at another time I announce that I will build up and establish a nation or kingdom, and if it does evil in My sight and does not obey Me, then I will reconsider the good I had intended for it."

This passage illustrates the dynamic relationship between divine judgment and human repentance. God's relenting is contingent upon the moral response of the people, emphasizing His justice and readiness to forgive.

Theological Implications

The attribution of repentance to God does not imply a change in His nature or a mistake in His actions. Instead, it reflects His relational engagement with humanity. God's "repentance" is an anthropopathic expression, using human terms to describe divine actions in a way that is understandable to human beings. It highlights God's responsiveness to human actions, His justice, and His mercy.

God's repentance is always consistent with His character. It is not a change of mind in the human sense but a change in action based on the moral and spiritual state of His people. This concept underscores the importance of human repentance and the impact it has on the divine-human relationship.

Conclusion

While the idea of God repenting may seem contradictory to His immutable nature, it serves to illustrate His deep involvement in the moral order of the world. It emphasizes His justice, mercy, and the importance of human response to His commands. Through these scriptural accounts, believers are reminded of the profound impact of their actions and the ever-present opportunity for reconciliation with God.

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Genesis 6:6,7
And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.
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Exodus 32:14
And the LORD repented of the evil which he thought to do to his people.
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Deuteronomy 32:36
For the LORD shall judge his people, and repent himself for his servants, when he sees that their power is gone, and there is none shut up, or left.
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Judges 2:18
And when the LORD raised them up judges, then the LORD was with the judge, and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge: for it repented the LORD because of their groanings by reason of them that oppressed them and vexed them.
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1 Samuel 15:11,29,35
It repents me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and has not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried to the LORD all night.
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2 Samuel 24:16
And when the angel stretched out his hand on Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed the people, It is enough: stay now your hand. And the angel of the LORD was by the threshing place of Araunah the Jebusite.
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1 Chronicles 21:15
And God sent an angel to Jerusalem to destroy it: and as he was destroying, the LORD beheld, and he repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed, It is enough, stay now your hand. And the angel of the LORD stood by the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.
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Psalm 106:45
And he remembered for them his covenant, and repented according to the multitude of his mercies.
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Psalm 110:4
The LORD has sworn, and will not repent, You are a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.
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Psalm 135:14
For the LORD will judge his people, and he will repent himself concerning his servants.
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Jeremiah 15:6
You have forsaken me, said the LORD, you are gone backward: therefore will I stretch out my hand against you, and destroy you; I am weary with repenting.
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Jeremiah 18:8,10
If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do to them.
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Jeremiah 26:3
If so be they will listen, and turn every man from his evil way, that I may repent me of the evil, which I purpose to do to them because of the evil of their doings.
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Jeremiah 42:10
If you will still abide in this land, then will I build you, and not pull you down, and I will plant you, and not pluck you up: for I repent me of the evil that I have done to you.
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Joel 2:13
And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn to the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repents him of the evil.
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Amos 7:3,6
The LORD repented for this: It shall not be, said the LORD.
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Jonah 3:9,10
Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?
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Library

Instances of God's Repentance, and Notably in the Case of the ...
... choice of Saul, it follows that this repentance is to be ... under discussion), which
the most good God is incapable ... 3000] means, not what may be attributed to the ...
/.../the five books against marcion/chapter xxiv instances of gods repentance.htm

The Unchangeableness of God
... Repentance is attributed to God figuratively. Numbers 23:19. He is not a man that
he should repent.' There may be a change in God's work, but not in his will. ...
/.../watson/a body of divinity/4 the unchangeableness of god.htm

Exhortation to Repentance.
Treatises Attributed to Cyprian on Questionable Authority. . ... Exhortation to
Repentance. That all sins may be forgiven him who has turned to God ...
/.../exhortation to repentance.htm

On the Nature of God
... Nearly allied to this is Repentance, which, in God, is nothing more than a ... exclude
even Fear, which, by an Anthropo-pathy, we read, as attributed to God. ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 1/disputation 4 on the nature.htm

On the Attributes of God which Come to be Considered under his ...
... To this, repentance has some affinity; which is nothing more ... See Thesis 11) some
belong to God per se ... to have something of imperfection, are attributed to him ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 2/disputation xx on the attributes.htm

Baptism unto Repentance
... You will never get right with God till you are ... gross and material form; and men have
attributed to the ... It was not baptism unto remission, but unto repentance. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/meyer/john the baptist/vi baptism unto repentance.htm

Use to be Made of the Doctrine of Providence.
... fixed. Answer to this first objection. Proof from Scripture that God cannot
repent. 13. Why repentance attributed to God. 14. Second ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 17 use to be.htm

How the Mingling of Love and Sorrow Takes Place in Contrition.
... saves the soul, makes her grateful God and justifies ... which apparently should only
be attributed to love ... the reflection of this knowledge, repentance by little ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter xx how the mingling.htm

Abbott -- the Divinity in Humanity
... are alike"the very things we call faults in men are attributed to the ... as I am the
Son of God, you can become the Son of God. ... There is no trace of repentance. ...
/.../kleiser/the worlds great sermons volume 8/abbott the divinity in.htm

The Sympathy of God
... promise was renewed after Israel's sin and repentance, and was ... deliverance of Israel
in the past is attributed to Him ... revelation both of the heart of God and of ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/the sympathy of god.htm