Verse 11
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=2&chapter=32&version=31
note: In some versions it said "repented" & not "relented.
2007-09-02 14:57:11 · 22 answers · asked by NativeAtlantean 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I believe so...anything is possible...but you would probably have to be a "top consultant", dead or some type of spirit for it to even be considered.
2007-09-02 16:54:51 · answer #1 · answered by ☆ 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Judeo-Christian belief holds that God is timeless. Past, present and future for God can be seen as a whole. This much is commonly asserted. What is sometimes not understood is that God also knows how things would turn out differently had a different path been taken at every potential choice-making nexus. God knew you would turn left at Main Street this morning; but He also knows what would have happened had you turned right.
It does not mean however that God is static, never does anything, or never says anything. Nor can it be asserted to mean that God does not alter stated plans in reaction to human freewill choices.
Gen. 18:23-33.
Abraham intercedes with God on behalf of Sodom, asking Him to spare the city in a classic ANE "marketplace bartering" conversation which probably served to give Abraham some idea what this new God of "his" was like.
Did God here offer to change His mind? With intercession and/or change, God will make a change in an announced plan. But if God is omniscient, then He knew in advance what Abraham would ask for -- and knew also what the end result would be. (Note that God asks, clearly rhetorically [18:17], whether He should tell Abraham what His plans are, and that the number of possible righteous goes only to 10 -- the next logical increment, 5, would have been less than the number of Lot's family of 6: Lot, his wife, his two daughters, and their prospective grooms. In essence Abraham is pleading for Lot's safety here!) God dealt with Abraham in human terms for his own sake; but even before the conversation started, the matter was decided. God did not change nor compromise, but in fact, in feigning ignorance (v. 21), dropped a very strong hint that intercession on Abraham's part was desired. This incident was more than a typical ANE barter-exchange, then: It was also a tone-setting meeting laying down the terms upon which God would relate to His covenant people. He knew what they would do; but He also wanted them to come to Him in their need. (And in any event, since all 6 members of Lot's family eventually fouled up, it was proven that there were no righteous people in Sodom on that day!)
2007-09-02 22:42:32 · answer #2 · answered by D2T 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As with the flood of Noah's time; God was going to eliminate all life from the earth. If it had not been for Noah's prayers for God to change his mind, no life would have survived.
So you see, God can change his "mind" on things.
Nothing is set in stone--ever.
As well, with Adam and Eve; God had a set plan. Life was not suppose to be like this. Adam and Eve used their free will to go against God's original plan of a "paradise" for us humans.
Free will does not mean God knows the decisions we are going to make. He does know the decisions once they are made, but not beforehand.
If you think about this on a logical basis, it makes sense. Otherwise there would be no point in being here or for him to put us here.
The prophesies in Revelations is because he knows the "heart" of man and he knows that they will never change. That doesn't mean he knows all of the decisions we will make.
Just like it can be assumed that a person being released from prison will commit the same crime over, according to statistics, so, God knows the "heart" of man will never change.
2007-09-02 22:07:55 · answer #3 · answered by Me 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Abraham was bargaining with God not to destroy Sodom and Gomorah if Abraham found a certain number of righteous men in that city. It started at 100 and Abraham got God down to 10. So the answer that you are looking for is YES!
2007-09-02 22:03:51 · answer #4 · answered by michael m 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Doubtful. If he is omnipotent, there is nothing you can tell him that he doesn't already know. There is no point of consideration you could give him that he hasn't thought of. There is no feeling you have that he isn't aware of.
So the only logical choice is that he knew all along what he would do and asking him to change his mind is just a formality, or he is not all-knowing like he says he is, in which case the Bible is moot and untrustworthy.
2007-09-02 22:03:33 · answer #5 · answered by Rin 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The believers say God is perfect and of course a perfect being could be reasoned with. Is he still perfect when he changes his mind? Well, he can't be perfect if he is unable to change his mind. Guess this proves he isn't perfect, but I never believed that crap anyway.
2007-09-02 22:08:16 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Rarely- Abraham did with Sodom, and I think Moses did when God wanted to destroy Israel and build up a different nation for His purposes. I don't think anybody else has- even Jesus asked if it would be possible to let this cup (judgment) pass from Him and the Father didn't change.
2007-09-02 22:07:50 · answer #7 · answered by copperhead89 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Scripture shows that he can be influenced by a generous blood sacrifice... like 100 sheep and goats, for example... and persuaded to change his mind that way. I don't know if I'd go so far as to call that 'reason', though.
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2007-09-02 22:07:33 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The only other time in scripture some one changed Gods mind was in the record of Sodom and Gamora.
2007-09-02 22:04:19 · answer #9 · answered by jesusfreakjav 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The Bible indicates that is the case: Abraham negotiating to save Sodom if only ten righteous men could be found. (I may have the number wrong, but that's the idea).
2007-09-02 22:01:55 · answer #10 · answered by embroidery fan 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋