Faith First Media

The following is an excerpt from the book Does the Bible Have Contradictions? by Matthew Elton, copyright 2009 Matthew Elton.

Does God change his mind (Genesis 6:7; Exodus 32:14; 1 Samuel 15:10-11, 35), or does he not change his mind (1 Samuel 15:29)?

God does “repent” (to change one’s actions) as He did in Genesis 6:7, Exodus 32:14, 1 Samuel 15:10-11, and 1 Samuel 15:35. These verses do not contradict 1 Samuel 15:29 because 1 Samuel 15:29 does not state that God never repents, but that God is not required to repent, “for he is not a man, that he should repent”. This verse is saying that although men are obligated to repent when they sin against God, God is not, because He is not a man. God is greater than man (Job 33:12) and He does whatever He pleases (Psalm 115:3).