One of God’s attributes is His ‘immutability’, meaning “God is unchanging in His character, will, and covenant promises.”

In Exodus 3:14, God said, “I AM that I AM,” signifying His eternal sameness and sovereignty. Furthermore, the Bible says that God is “from everlasting to everlasting” (Psalm 90:2); meaning He cannot change His moral character, love, omniscience, omnipresence, or omnipotence.

In Malachi, God also clarified His unchanging nature by saying:

Malachi 3:6 (NKJV)

For I am the Lord, I do not change;

The book of numbers also contrast’s God’s nature with that of men.

Numbers 23:19 (NKJV)

God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do?  Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?

According to these scriptures, it is clear that God does not change His mind. However, there are a few passages in scripture that people often use to argue that God changes His mind.

An example of this is found in Exodus 32, when Moses spends 40 days on the mountain and when he returns with the ten commandments, he finds the people worshipping a golden calf. Consequently, there was a great trial and trouble to come to Israel, and God was going to wipe them out. But when Moses reminded God of His covenant promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, the scripture records the following about God’s reaction;

Exodus 32:14 (NKJV)

So the Lord relented from the harm which He said He would do to His people.

Some translations use the words ‘changed His mind,’ or ‘comforted,’ which is also an appropriate word for interpreting the passage in context. This implies that God was comforted in that He did not have to execute justice because somebody mediated, confessed, acknowledged the wrong, and appealed to God’s covenant faithfulness. At the outset it might look as though God changed His mind but we need to note that God is unlike us.

Consider it this way, when someone changes their mind, it’s either because they have new information or because circumstances have changed, making a change in attitude or action necessary. But, because God is all-knowing, He cannot learn something new. Therefore, when the Bible speaks of God changing His mind, it refers to a change in circumstances or situations—not a change in God Himself.

When the scripture passages (Exodus 32:14 and 1 Samuel 15:11-29) speak of God changing His mind, it simply describes a change of dispensation and outward dealings towards humanity based on their actions.

God’s ultimate purpose would still be accomplished, but not through severe punishment. Even though there were always consequences the people of Israel had to face, they were not completely eradicated overnight.

The providence of God is unrelenting, but His permissive will (in how He arrives at His providential outcome) may change. Not God’s providence but the permissive will in how He gets there.

The above statement might sound confusing, but in simple words, God is going to do what He is going to do. The question is, how will He get it done? And God does not prefer severe discipline, but He will do it if that is necessary.

In addition, it is imperative to remember that the Bible is written from the viewpoint of an observer. In our view, it looked as though God was angry with the people of Israel, and when Moses prayed, it seemed to have changed God’s mind. But God always knew Moses would pray, and He always knew He would relent based on what Moses did. This scene is written from an observer’s viewpoint, like how we say the sun rises and sets instead of saying the earth revolves around it. We use observational language, and the Bible uses it too.

So God doesn’t change; we do, and He is always angry with sin and pleased with those who turn to Him for help. And what essentially happens is that we move from one aspect of God’s wrath when we sin and into grace when we trust in Him.

Our choices are also not surprising to God, nor does He have to adapt to our errors or plans. Every action He takes is guided by the counsel of His will.