“And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent:
for he is not a man, that he should repent.”
(1 Samuel 15:29)
Unlike the fickle gods of pagan myths, who act with human whims, the God of Scripture is unchangeable, “the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Heb. 13:8). His immutability is affirmed in 1 Samuel 15:29 and Numbers 23:19, declaring that He does not repent as humans do, for His nature is free from error or weakness. Yet, Scripture also describes God “repenting,” as in 1 Samuel 15:11, 35, Genesis 6:6-7, and Jonah 3:9-10.
This apparent contradiction is resolved by understanding divine “repentance” as an anthropopathy—a way of describing God’s actions in human terms. When God “repents,” it reflects a change in His dealings with humanity, not a shift in His eternal will. As Augustine states, “The repentance of God is not after any error, but the change of things and constitutions in his power as being noted.”[1]
In Hosea 11:8-9, God’s lament over Israel’s judgment reveals His mercy, withholding destruction despite their sin. Similarly, in 1 Samuel 13:13-14, God’s intent to bless Saul changed to judgment due to disobedience, yet His divine purpose remained fixed. These changes are in humanity’s experience, not God’s nature.
Like a moon that appears to shift as we turn, God’s will is constant, but our perception alters as we move from rebellion to repentance. His promises and threats are often conditional, tied to faith and obedience (Deut. 28:13; Ps. 7:12), ensuring His justice and mercy align with His unchanging decree.
Contemplations:
- Your unchanging nature. Lord, I see that men repent when they stop doing what they have done and do something different. But when You are said to “repent” in Scripture, there is no change in You, Your nature, or Your decree. This simply means that the creature changed, which moved them from a place of punishment to a place of Your blessing. Your steadfastness strengthens my faith.
- Your constant will. Lord, I understand that You may will a change, but You never change Your will. The change is in us, not You. To those who are on a ship in the sea, houses and trees seem to move as they pass. Yet it is the ship that moves and the houses and trees that stay fixed in place. Your immutable will provides a steadfast anchor for my hope.
- Conditional promises. Sometimes, Lord, You promise or threaten things which do not come to pass. This indicates that those threatenings and promises were only conditional. Your promises are most often conditional to faith and obedience (Deut. 28:13), and Your threatenings come with an exception based on conversion and repentance (Psalm 7:2). Help me trust Your perfect justice and mercy.
Prayer (Supplication)
O immutable and holy God, You are the eternal Strength of Israel, whose will never wavers and whose nature remains forever constant. Your unchangeable character, as 1 Samuel 15:29 declares, sets You apart from all creation in that it is free from error or caprice. I worship You for Your steadfastness, knowing that Your promises and judgments align with Your perfect justice and mercy. Your unchanging love, revealed through Christ, anchors my soul in every storm.
I confess that I have often misunderstood Your ways, questioning Your purposes when Your actions seemed to shift. My heart has doubted Your constancy, fearing that my sins could alter Your love. I have failed to trust Your conditional promises, neglecting repentance and obedience. Forgive me for these sins, for assigning human weakness to Your divine nature. Cleanse me through Jesus’ blood that my faith may be renewed in Your unchanging will.
Lord, I plead for grace to rest in Your immutability. Help me trust that Your will never changes, as Numbers 23:19 affirms, and that Your mercy awaits my repentance. Grant me faith and obedience to meet the conditions of Your promises, as Deuteronomy 28:13 teaches. Fill me with Your Spirit, that I may turn from sin and receive Your blessings. Guard my heart from doubting Your steadfast love, and use me to proclaim Your unchanging truth. And conform me to Christ’s image, that I may honor Your constant nature with a steadfast faith.
In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Further References for 1 Samuel 15:29:
Num. 23:19; Titus 1:2; Ezek. 24:14; Heb. 6:18.
[1] lib. 17. de Civit. Dei.
