Changing Minds and Right Perspectives
Over the next months our newsletters will be written by one of our elder candidates as a way for him to develop his ministry to the church.
by Matt Olson
Sometimes in Scripture we read passages that make us question whether or not God changes His mind. One example comes from the book of Jonah. In chapter three, Jonah (finally) began to prophesy regarding Nineveh’s destruction; when the king of Nineveh heard about it, he issued a decree that every man and beast should fast and be covered in sackcloth and call out mightily to God. In verse ten, after God saw how Nineveh turned from their evil way, God relented. If God’s intent was to destroy Nineveh, does this mean God changed His mind?
To answer this question we need to understand some things about God and about our perspective. We should always be cautious when discerning God’s intentions. As created beings who are tainted by sin in every aspect, we will never completely grasp or understand our Creator.
Scripture tells us that God is all knowing and that He declares the end from the beginning. We also read that His ways are not our ways and that His purposes are not thwarted. God is a just God. If He were to let sin go unpunished, He would not be just. God is also a loving and compassionate God and desires repentance. God loved us enough to send His one and only Son to pay the price for our sins by His death on the cross therefore fulfilling God‘s requirement for justice. This is why God can show us grace and mercy without being unjust.
From our point of view, we make decisions based on desires and information we have at any given moment. If at any time in the future we discover new information that wasn’t considered previously, we may change our mind. For instance, if our family decided to go out for gelato, and on the way there we realized that the shop was closed, we might decide to have ice cream instead. We changed our mind. The changes that God appears to make are never based on new information that was previously unknown to Him.
Back to the question at hand, did God change his mind? No. If God chooses justice as a divine judgment against some people, He is right. If God chooses to show compassion and mercy instead of justice, as he did in this case with Nineveh, He is right. If He chooses to show grace, as He has done through Christ, He is right. If we don’t understand why He works the way He does, it’s understandable. More than that, it’s okay! We, as finite beings, struggle to comprehend the infinite. Plus, if we could truly comprehend everything about God, in a way that every mysterious aspect is answered, would he really be worthy of our worship?
At home, we have many kids’ books with the story of Jonah. One thing that is always conspicuously missing is the biblical ending. The kid’s versions never end with Jonah sitting in the hot desert, baking in the scorching sun, sitting next to a dead plant, stewing in his anger while telling God to end his life. Maybe I can see why... maybe not. If we consider God’s perspective (as much as that’s possible), His compassion, and His love of His people, it’s not beyond God to orchestrate this entire event to work in the life of Jonah. God reveals to Jonah that he needs the mercy and grace of God every bit as much as the Ninevites do and that man’s sin cannot thwart the plans of God—all while saving potentially 120,000 people! What are we to make of the fact that Nineveh was destroyed at a later date? I think it’s fair to say that God chose to delay his judgment in order that more might be saved (2 Peter 3:9).
If God’s intent was to bring Nineveh to repentance, it was accomplished. If God’s intent was to bring about change in Jonah, we can presume it was accomplished. Keeping things in perspective can help us to remember that we are sinners in need of a Savior. It’s okay for us to change our minds in light of God’s mercy and grace. It’s okay that we don’t understand how God is at work in hard situations. We can trust that God is good and that in all things, God works for the good of those who love him. Our God is an awesome God!
Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgments,
and his paths beyond tracing out!
“Who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been his counselor?”
“Who has ever given to God,
that God should repay them?”
For from him and through him and for him are all things.
To him be the glory forever! Amen.
— Romans 11:33-36