What is up with Exodus 32:14?

Question

"And the LORD repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people" (KJV)

http://bible.cc/exodus/32-14.htm

In other bibles it is 'So the LORD changed His mind' which is also a tad weird.

Why would God have to repent? And why would God want to do evil? Against his own followers no less?

Lamont Cranston: and what about the evil bit? How do you explain that away?

Answer 1

Very good quote. Ironically, the bible even disagrees with itself over whether or not God CAN repent. Check it out.

God does not repent:
Numbers 3:19 God is not a man that he should lie; neither the son of a man that he should repent.

1 Samuel 15:29 The Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent.

Ezekiel 24:14 I the LORD have spoken it: it shall come to pass, and I will do it; I will not go back, neither will I spare, neither will I repent.

Malachi 3:6 For I am the Lord, I change not.

James 1:17 With whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

God DOES repent:
Genesis 6:6 And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.

Exodus 32:14 And the Lord repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people.

Deuteronomy 32:36 For the Lord shall judge his people, and repent himself for his servants.

1 Samuel 15:11 It repenteth me [God] that I have set up Saul to be king.

1 Samuel 15:35 The Lord repented that he had made Saul king over Israel.

2 Samuel 24:16 The Lord repented of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed the people, it is enough: stay now thine hand.

1 Chronicles 21:15 The Lord beheld, and he repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed, It is enough, stay now thine hand.

Isaiah 38:1-5 In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And Isaiah ... said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order: for thou shalt die, and not live. ... Thus saith the LORD ... I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen years.

Jeremiah 15:6 I [God] am weary of repenting.

Jeremaih 18:8 I [God] will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.

Jeremaih 26:3 That I [God]may repent me of the evil, which I purpose to do unto them.

Jeremiah 26:13 The Lord will repent him of the evil that he hath pronounced against you.

Jeremiah 26:19 The Lord repented him of the evil which he had pronounced against them.

Jeremaih 42:10 For I [God] repent me of the evil that I have done unto you.

Amos 7:3, 6 The Lord repented for this.

Jonah 3:10 God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them.

Answer 2

Repent = metaneo = a change of mind . It's just an anthropopathism. Ascribing a human characteristic to God so that man can understand the principle. God never changes His mind because He is omnipotent.

BTW: It's okay to eat shrimp now.

Answer 3

He was angry because the Israelites had built the golden calf while Moses was up getting the 10 commandments. God was telling Moses he needed to get back because they had built an idol and were worshiping it. Moses begged for mercy and God relented. I'm guessing He did this so Moses would go back and tell the people what they had narrowly avoided and how merciful God can be.

Answer 4

The terminology does leave us in the modern world a bit stymied. But please note that "repented" means to go in the other direction, to do an about face, or as you say, "He changed His mind". You say weird, I say thank God! What if He hadn't changed His mind to give us another chance?

The evil that is referred to is actually translated to mean "tragedy", in other words like Sodom and Gomorrah (sp?) or the great flood; a tragedy to us but justice to God.

If you think about it, He was well within His rights to terminate us, but because He loves us so much, He gave us another chance, then another chance ..... how long before we run out of chances to do His will?

Answer 5

Moses went up Mount Horeb several times, remaining on two occasions for periods of 40 days and nights. After the first of these occasions he returned with two stone tablets “written on by God’s finger,” containing “the Ten Words” or Ten Commandments, the basic laws of the Law covenant. On this first occasion Moses showed himself to be fittingly qualified as mediator between Jehovah and Israel and leader of this great nation of perhaps three million or more. When Moses was in the mountain, Jehovah informed him that the people had turned to idolatry and Jehovah said: “Now let me be, that my anger may blaze against them and I may exterminate them, and let me make you into a great nation.” Moses’ immediate reply revealed that the sanctification of Jehovah’s name was the thing of primary importance to him, that he was completely unselfish and did not desire fame for himself.
He asked nothing for himself but, rather, showed concern for Jehovah’s name that He had recently exalted by the Red Sea miracle, and regard for God’s promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Jehovah, in approval of Moses’ plea, spared the people. Here it is seen that Jehovah regarded Moses as satisfactorily filling his mediatorial role and that He respected the arrangement through which he had appointed Moses to that office. Thus, Jehovah “began to feel regret over the evil that he had spoken of doing to his people” that is, because of altered circumstances, he changed his attitude regarding bringing evil upon them.

Answer 6

This "evil" is bringing judgment and God although knowing all things reveals Himself to us as a God who loves and blesses that which is right and hates and punishes that which is wrong. We see it here that he threatens punishment and when they obey he gives blessing. He revealed His wrath to get them to change that He might show His mercy.

Answer 7

Remember the Israelites, were slaves in Egypt. They begged God for years to free them, so he frees them and they don't even bother to thank him. Wouldn't you be angry too? So Moses pleaded with God on there behalf and he spared them.

Answer 8

God was ready to smite the people, when Moses invoked the prior covenants.

Answer 9

He was going to destoy them, and make Moses descendants the great nation, but Moses refused, so God let them live,

Answer 10

That's a good question. I am Catholic and ofcourse I believe in the Bible but I don't necessarily trust it because it's been revised so many times.