In Exodus God said to Moses

In Exodus God said to Moses that He was so upset with Israel in the wilderness that He would start again with Moses and make Moses into a great nation ! But also the Bible says ‘God changes not and with Him there is no shadow of turning.’ “Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today and forever.’ Do these scripture contradict each other? Please explain other anomalies like this.

That’s a profound and insightful question, and it touches on some of the most fascinating aspects of Scripture—how God's nature can be both unchanging and yet responsive to human circumstances. Let me craft a brief ‘Sermon Sippet’ that addresses this, hosted by Graeme Blaiklock.

Sermon Sippet: Does God Change? Exploring God's Unchanging Nature and His Responses

Hello, friends. Today, I want to explore a question that many believers have wrestled with: Does God change? We see in Malachi 3:6, “For I am the Lord, I do not change,” and in Hebrews 13:8, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” These verses affirm God’s unchanging nature—His character, His promises, His love.

But then, in Exodus 32, after the Israelites’ rebellion with the golden calf, God tells Moses, in effect, that He’s so upset with Israel that He might “destroy them and make you [Moses] into a great nation instead.” This appears to show God changing His mind, or at least responding differently than before.

So, how do we reconcile these? The key is understanding that God's essence and His relational responses are different. God's unchanging nature is rooted in His character—His holiness, love, justice. When God appears to change His mind, it's often in response to human repentance, prayer, or faith. God’s relational dealings with us are dynamic; He responds to our actions, choices, and faith, but His core character remains the same.

Think of it like a parent who has set rules—those rules don’t change. But a parent might change their response based on the child's behavior—showing mercy or discipline—but their love and character stay constant.

Other apparent anomalies include God's anger and mercy—both are expressions of His perfect justice and love. Or in Jonah, where God shows mercy to Nineveh, which might seem surprising given His justice. But it's all consistent once we realize God's justice and mercy are two sides of the same divine character.

In essence, God's essence never changes, but His actions can vary in response to human circumstances—always guided by His perfect love and justice.

Thanks for listening. To dive deeper into God's unchanging nature and His responses, join the conversation at our podcast super site, godstreamradio.com. There, you'll find insightful podcasts from Christian authors and talented musicians. Your journey of faith is worth it—see you there!