Does God change His mind?

So I was going through a bit of a crisis the other day. I'd read something in the Bible that I couldn't figure out, and not understanding it was driving me absolutely INSANE! Not just that, but it was sorta shaking the belief system that I hold too. Thankfully I was able to talk to a leader at my church about the situation, and he was able to clear some things up for me. So, I decided to share both my concerns that I first had, and also how those concerns were put to rest.

It all began while sitting in this awesome college/young adult group at my church called "Next". The teacher for the evening led us to Exodus 32 during part of his teachings, and while we were there, I began to read ahead. When I got to verse 14, my mind did a double take. "So the LORD changed His mind about the harm which He said He would do to His people." (EXODUS 32:14 NAS) -

I believe that God knows all. I believe that although we have free will, and have to make choices on our own, God already knows what my choices will be. Yet, if God knows everything, and is always good and always right, how can he "change His mind", and whats more, how could "man", who is sinful and (for lack of a better word) stupid, change the mind of the LORD GOD!?! I don't know if this would be troublesome to anyone else, but this greatly disturbed me.

However, the person I talked to helped me find God's constant, helped me realize that God works in wonderful and mysterious ways, which may not always be understandable to me, but are still wonderful. Another thing I realized is that, I am human. I cannot and will not understand the God of all the universe completely. And thank God for that. As the author of "The Shack", William P. Young puts it, "Who wants to serve a God that you can fully understand?" I don't know about you, but I am glad that the God I serve is a whole lot wiser than I am, or than any human.

So, other than the realization that I cannot understand God all the time, how was I able to feel convinced that the God I love doesn't "change His mind" on the wishes of a man? It is quite simple really. Just because God allowed Moses to believe that he had intervened and "saved" his people, does not mean that it was exactly the case. He was working in this man, Moses. A work that had begun years earlier. In order for this work to be completed, Moses had to go through certain situations in order to develop specifics attributes that would enable him to lead his people to their promised land. He also knew that wrong had been done. God knew that He had to make Moses know that their actions were not acceptable, and would not be tolerated. So the God that is always just, let Moses know that He could destroy them all, which is what they deserved. Moses then pleaded to save His people. God knew He wasn't going to destroy His chosen people, He remembered the promise He made to Abraham many many years ago, but He also knew that this had to be done so that Moses would go down from that mountain, and upon seeing the Israelites in their idolatry, would become outraged at their sin. He would become the leader that these people needed, and God would complete His work in Him.

Sometimes, in order for us to find the light, God must first show us the darkness.

I hope that I was able to write this out in a way that makes sense haha. Things are a lot clearer in my head before I try to explain it.

God Bless! (and come to NEXT! Fridays at 8pm at Calvary Community Church)

Kevin Devine and Straylight Run

First things first...stop what you are doing and download or purchase (depending on who you are) the musical genius that the title of this blog is blessed with. Kevin Devine is pure, real, sincere. His heart opening prayer, "Lord, I know we don't talk much", made me an instant fan. Not to mention any of his other greats (like the cover of Brand New's "Jesus Christ" and "Cotton Crush"). Straylight Run is best described by my friend as "Ambient piano rock". "Existentialism On Prom Night" will be an immediate favorite, if you appreciate amazing music that is. I have not heard a song I don't like yet in my 1st time through their works, and find myself more and more drawn in to the stories being told, to the music being shared, and the lives being transformed.

If anyone figures out these things we call "emotions", please let me know. Because I don't understand them AT ALL. I don't understand how I can still feel a certain way after the things that have transpired. I don't understand why my heart is wanting more, when I know there won't be anymore. I don't understand this game they call "love", or why I always seem to be on the losing side. Am I playing the game wrong? Am I not playing enough? Do I just pick bad teammates? Or am I doing everything exactly how I was supposed too, and God is just using each situation to bring me one step closer to the girl who WON'T break my heart? That is a day I can't wait for. I hear people at work, or amongst friends commenting on how they don't want to get married ever, or that they hope it isn't for a long time. Why am I so different? Why is it that from the time I was 12, my greatest dream, yes even greater than playing baseball, was to get married and to have a family of my own? I still hold to that dream. I picture it in my mind almost everyday. Yet I feel closer to my dream of playing baseball professionally (which isn't very close at all).

I know that I am where I am because it is God's plan. I know that God directs my steps just like Solomon tells us in Proverbs, "A man's steps are directed by the LORD. How then can anyone understand his own way?" Me saying that I don't understand is an understatement. It'd be like saying, "Babe Ruth was a power hitter and nothing else" (that was for you Brandon :)), and for all you non-baseball fans/losers out there, it'd be like saying, "The Beatles were good for their era". Get what I mean? lol I knew you would...anyways...back to the point. I know that God is the author of my steps though, and so even though I don't understand, even though I can't figure out what purpose my life has, even though I feel like I'll never get the two things I've wanted and worked for my entire life, I know that God will reveal everything in His perfect timing. I know that He will complete His work in me. Why? Because He loves me, and that's all that I need. Signing off.