18th.: God’s Command can be Changed
Some people say that God's sovereignty is so over riding that
people can't change His mind. They will then cite,
"God is not man, that he should lie,
or a son of man, that he should change his mind." Numbers 23:19, ESV
or a son of man, that he should change his mind." Numbers 23:19, ESV
Yet, to a point, this does not fit with all of Scripture.
In one situation, God gave Ezekiel the prophet to us for an 'object lesson'.
Ezekiel would be the 'object lesson'.
Per Ezekiel chapter 8,
Ezekiel had to publicly lay a brick.
He then had to build a dirt castle (like a siege mound) around that brick.
Then he had to lie down beside his artwork, for over a year.
His lying down represented Israel's enemies besieging Jerusalem.
To prepare for this year long siege, God directed Ezekiel to prepare food,
“And thou shalt eat it as barley cakes, and thou shalt bake it
with dung that comes out of a man, in their sight.” (Eze. 8:12).
Ezekiel objected, “Then said I, Ah Lord God! Behold, my soul has not
been polluted: for from my youth up even till now,
I have not eaten of that which dies of itself, or is torn in pieces,
neither came there abominable flesh into my mouth.” (Eze. 8:14).
Ezekiel reminded God of God's own laws from Leviticus 7:18 & 24, and Exodus 22:31.
God did not rebuke Ezekiel. Rather, God answered,
“Lo, I have given thee cow’s dung for man’s dung, and thou shalt prepare thy bread therewith.” (Eze. 8:15).
God accepted Ezekiel's reluctance, and changed His specific command.
At face value, it looks like God 'changed his mind.'
Some may say that God wanted Ezekiel to object all along.
That may be true. If that is the case, there may be many times, when God wants us to object -
with sound reasons.
We must remember that God has final say, and he can say, Yes, No, Maybe or Wait.
Nevertheless, there may be places, where it is for us to entreat God to 'change his mind', in a manner of speaking.
“The wisdom that is from above is …easy to be intreated.” (James 3:17)