Go! And Trust the God Who Never Changes
Opening Prayer
Almighty God, You are faithful and true. As we open Your Word today, illuminate our hearts with understanding, draw us nearer to Your Son, and deepen our trust in Your unchanging nature. Let the truth of Your character anchor our souls and lead us into repentance and obedience. In the precious name of Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord, Amen.
Introduction: “Does God Change His Mind?”
Have you ever made a promise with the best intentions but later broke it? Maybe your circumstances changed—or maybe you changed. Unlike us, God does not change. Yet, when we read Scripture, it might seem like He sometimes does. Today, we will confront this tension in three remarkable verses—Numbers 23:19, Genesis 6:6, and Jonah 3:10—and we will discover an amazing truth: God is constant in character, yet responsive in compassion.
This truth doesn’t just shape theology—it transforms lives. It leads us to repentance, draws us to the cross, and calls us to trust in Jesus Christ as the unwavering fulfilment of God’s promises.
Numbers 23:19 (NLT): "God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through?"
Genesis 6:6 (NLT): "So the Lord was sorry he had ever made them and put them on the earth. It broke his heart."
Jonah 3:10 (NLT): "When God saw what they had done and how they had put a stop to their evil ways, he changed his mind and did not carry out the destruction he had threatened."
Point 1: God’s Character Is Unchanging
Let’s begin with Numbers 23:19. These words come from the pagan prophet Balaam—forced by God to speak truth—declaring that God is not like man.
“Change his mind” is ????? (nacham), which can mean to relent, be sorry, repent, or be comforted, depending on the context.
The meaning here? God doesn’t change arbitrarily. He doesn’t lie, He doesn’t deceive, and He doesn’t make mistakes.
Malachi 3:6 (NLT): “I am the Lord, and I do not change. That is why you descendants of Jacob are not already destroyed.”
This declaration comes in the context of God’s faithfulness to His covenant—even when Israel fails.
Charles Stanley once said: "God’s character is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He never acts out of impulse or error."
I love that! Our hope is anchored in a God whose promises are never cancelled by His emotions.
The Lighthouse in the Storm
Imagine a sailor in a fierce storm. The waves shift, the wind howls, but one thing stays constant—the lighthouse. That’s our God. We may change. Our world may crumble. But He remains unmoved.
Point 2: God’s Heart Is Moved by Sin
Now let’s wrestle with Genesis 6:6: “The Lord was sorry… It broke his heart.”
This verse speaks of God's sorrow over the wickedness of humanity before the flood. Does this contradict Numbers 23?
Not at all.
This is a relational expression, not a retraction of His nature. God is not indifferent. His unchanging holiness is what causes His grief over sin. It’s not that He made a mistake in creating humans—it’s that sin brought grief into His good creation.
Again, the word is ????? (nacham)—but this time, it reveals a deep sorrow, a grieving heart.
Ephesians 4:30 (NLT): “And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live.”
Yes, our sin grieves the heart of God. He is not a cold, distant deity. He is a loving Father who feels.
R.T. Kendall wrote: "God’s immutability does not mean emotional absence. It means consistent love, consistent justice, and consistent mercy."
Amen! His sorrow over sin doesn’t reflect a change in His being—but rather the constancy of His holy love.
A Parent's Tears
A parent may grieve over a rebellious child—not because they regret having that child, but because they love them so deeply. That’s the kind of grief Genesis 6:6 reveals—holy sorrow, not fickle regret.
Point 3: God Responds to Repentance
Then we come to Jonah 3:10: “He changed his mind and did not carry out the destruction he had threatened.”
Again, we must understand this in context. God threatened destruction—but it was conditional on their response. The Ninevites repented—and God relented.
Jeremiah 18:7–8 (NLT): “If I announce that a certain nation… is to be uprooted… but then that nation renounces its evil ways, I will not destroy it as I had planned.”
This is not a change in God’s nature, but an expression of His mercy—a part of His eternal plan to save.
In the New Testament, the idea of repentance is tied to the word µeta???? (metanoeo)—to change one’s mind or to turn around.
When we repent, God remains consistent with His promise: to forgive and restore.
John Piper said: "God is unchangeable in His being, but not in His dealings with men. He governs with mercy and justice in perfect harmony."
And that’s what we see in Jonah—mercy flowing from the unchanging character of God.
Point 4: The Cross Is the Ultimate Proof of God’s Consistency
If you want to see the unchanging nature of God and the compassionate response of His heart intersect perfectly, look at the cross of Jesus Christ.
Romans 5:8 (NLT): “But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.”
God’s justice demanded the penalty for sin. His mercy provided the substitute—Jesus, the spotless Lamb.
Jesus' death wasn’t God changing His plan—it was the eternal plan revealed (see 1 Peter 1:20).
The Gospel is this:
Christ lived the life we could not live.
He died the death we deserved.
He was buried—and on the third day, He rose again!
Now, He offers forgiveness and new life to all who repent and believe.
Application: Trust and Turn
So what do we do with this truth?
Trust God's Promises
His Word never fails. His salvation is secure.
Hebrews 13:8 (NLT): “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”
Turn from Sin
Just as Nineveh repented, we are called to repent. His mercy awaits those who turn.
Live in Light of His Character
Let God’s unchanging nature be your anchor in a shifting world.
Call to Action:
Church, it’s time to go—and trust the God who never changes.
If you’re wandering, come home.
If you’re doubting, look to the cross.
If you’re burdened by sin, repent and receive mercy.
Invitation to Salvation:
If today you feel the weight of your sin, or a stirring in your heart to know the unchanging God personally, then don’t delay. Turn to Jesus.
Pray with me:
Lord Jesus, I acknowledge I am a sinner. I believe You died and rose again to save me. I turn from my sin and trust in You. Come into my life and make me new. Amen.
If you’ve prayed that, welcome to the family of God. Speak to someone today—we want to walk with you.
Benediction:
May you leave this place anchored in the faithfulness of your unchanging God.
May your heart be ever tender to His Spirit, and your life a testimony to His mercy.
Go—trust, repent, and rejoice in Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord. Amen.
