“Then the Lord relented and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened.” Exodus 32:14 NIV
Besides the wrestling with predestination, there is the wrestling with prayer and God’s unchanging nature, desire and purpose. This verse shows us that prayer somehow changes God’s mind. The word translated “relented” (NIV), “repented” (KJV), and “changed his mind” (NRSV) from the Hebrew means, “be sorry, repent, regret, be comforted, comfort.” In most cases, this refers to God’s repentance, not ours. When we repent, we repent of our sin towards God. We know God is free from sin. When God repents or relents it is a decision to change His action without any notion of wrongdoing or sin. From various readings in the Old and New Testaments we discover that a change in our conduct brings about a change in God’s judgement. The classic passage is in the analogy of the potter and the clay, where the Lord explains to Jeremiah: “If at any time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down and destroyed, and if that nation I warned repents of its evil, then I will relent and not inflict on it the disaster I had planned. And if at another time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be built up and planted, and if it does evil in my sight and does not obey me, then I will reconsider the good I had intended to do for it.” (Jeremiah 18:7-10 NIV). God’s character, holiness and purpose do not change. God’s promises and warnings are always conditional on our response to Him. One of those responses is prayer and intercession.
PRAYER THOUGHT
Lord, as You speak into our lives, may we respond in intercessory prayer.
PRAYER FOR TODAY
Lord, as You speak into our lives concerning our relationship with You, by Your Holy Spirit, lead us in prayer and intercession to Your Throne of Grace. AMEN
INTERNATIONAL BIBLE READING ASSOCIATION (IBRA)
Luke 8:22-39
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