022 - The Eternal Repents or NOT?

The Eternal Repents or NOT?

Concept of Repentance

Repentance, according to the etymology, means, first of all, feel regret, sadness.

In according to what is said, in the original Hebrew there are two words to express repentance:

 

·         "shuwb", that is the repentance of the Eternal;

·         "", which is the kind of repentance that occurs in the human being.

 

Unfortunately, in English there is only one word to express the two things, which hinders the understanding. Nevertheless, if we look with calm the context in which each word is placed, we will check the difference:

 

·         The repentance of the Eternal: is the feeling of regret that He feel by virtue of what He has to do for sake of human evil, so that everything that He is (love, truth and justice) never be lost.

·         The human repentance: is the feeling of regret that takes hold of him for having thought, felt, said or done something wrong, unfair, what makes him have shame and abomination of himself.

 

And don't stop there! The human repentance can be of two types:

 

·         "Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.” (2Cor 7.9,10).

 

·         Sorrow according to the world: is the repentance that takes hold of every human being because of the consequences that befell him (or someone that he loves) because of their choices. This is also known as remorse.

·         Sorrow according to the Eternal: is the repentance that takes hold of every human being by virtue of the operation of the Eternal in his heart, which leads him to have regret of being who he is and want to be a new creature in Christ.

 

Now you can understand what is written in Numbers 23.19?

 

·         "God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?"

 

See how it is clear: the Eternal does not repent as a human being. If it still is not clear, let us look better the all excerpt.

Numbers 23.19 – It’s impossible the Eternal get repented as the human being

·         "And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven oxen and seven rams. And Balak did as Balaam had spoken; and Balak and Balaam offered on every altar a bullock and a ram. And Balaam said unto Balak, Stand by thy burnt offering, and I will go: peradventure the LORD will come to meet me: and whatsoever he sheweth me I will tell thee. And he went to an high place. And God met Balaam: and he said unto him, I have prepared seven altars, and I have offered upon every altar a bullock and a ram. And the LORD put a word in Balaam's mouth, and said, Return unto Balak, and thus thou shalt speak. And he returned unto him, and, lo, he stood by his burnt sacrifice, he, and all the princes of Moab. And he took up his parable, and said, Balak the king of Moab hath brought me from Aram, out of the mountains of the east, saying, Come, curse me Jacob, and come, defy Israel. How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? or how shall I defy, whom the LORD hath not defied? For from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him: lo, the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations. Who can count the dust of Jacob, and the number of the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his! And Balak said unto Balaam, What hast thou done unto me? I took thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast blessed them altogether. And he answered and said, Must I not take heed to speak that which the LORD hath put in my mouth? And Balak said unto him, Come, I pray thee, with me unto another place, from whence thou mayest see them: thou shalt see but the utmost part of them, and shalt not see them all: and curse me them from thence. And he brought him into the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah, and built seven altars, and offered a bullock and a ram on every altar. And he said unto Balak, Stand here by thy burnt offering, while I meet the LORD yonder. And the LORD met Balaam, and put a word in his mouth, and said, Go again unto Balak, and say thus. And when he came to him, behold, he stood by his burnt offering, and the princes of Moab with him. And Balak said unto him, What hath the LORD spoken? And he took up his parable, and said, Rise up, Balak, and hear; hearken unto me, thou son of Zippor: God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it. " (Numbers 23.1-20).

 

Firstly, we must understand the context. Note how Balak, wanting at all costs that Balaam curse Israel, takes him from one place to another, in the hope that, by changing the angle of seeing things, the view of the Eternal would be changed.

It is, then, that Balaam explains that the Eternal does not change the opinion as does the human being: or because earlier He lied; or because, even He having been sincere, was obliged to change as a result of having discovered a new information.

The Bible is clear in stating that the Eternal does not change (see this examples: Psalms 110.4; Hosea 13.14):

 

·         "For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed." (Malachi 3.6).

·         "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever." (Hebrews 13.8).

·         "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.      " (James 1:17).

·         "If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself." (2 Timothy 2.13).

 

And it could not be different. How could He change since He is:

 

·         Eternal? For that a change is possible, there must be a "before and after". (John 17.5; 1 Tim.1:17). And there isn’t, since He is the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end (Isaiah 41.4; 44.6; 48.12; Revelation 1.8.11.17; 21.6; 22.13).

·         Perfect? A change, or is for "better" or "worse". If there is no difference there isn’t  change. (Matt.5.48). And as the Eternal already is perfect (full in all His attributes - Psalms 33.11), both in character (James 1.17), desire (Isaiah 46.9-10) and purposes (Hebrew 6.17), any change that took place in Him would be worse.

·         Omniscient. When someone changes the idea is for that received a new information that previously existed (see Psalms 40.5; 139.17,18; 147.5; Isaiah 40.28; Romans 11.33). As the Eternal already knows everything, then there is no possibility of this happening.

 

And may this be clear: the Eternal does not foresee or anticipates the future. Since He is omniscient and dwells in eternity (Isaiah 57.15), He sees present, past and future, as if they was happening at this very moment.

No change is possible in the Eternal, either by increase or decrease, progress or degradation, reduction or development. He has no way to be less than it is, because it fills all things (Acts 17.25-28), much less be more than it is.

However, neither by this He remains motionless and insensible in  theheaven:

 

·         He moves -> "Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded." (James 4.8).

·         He feel emotion -> "And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart." (Gen 6.6).

Analyzing calmly the main excerpts that show the Eternal repent

Although the Eternal is omniscient and prescient, He lives every moment with each individual that there is in this world, being sensitive to what every one feels. When it is necessary to grieve someone because of their sins, He suffers along with the individual (hence saying that the Eternal is  sufferer - Psalms 86.15; 145.8):

 

·         "But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies. For he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men. " (Lamentations 3.32,33).

 

 

For you have a vague idea of how it would be like, do you remember when you saw a good movie for the second, third, fourth time? Even knowing beforehand the end of the story, you live again all the emotions, as if he were seeing for the first time.

Thus, even the Eternal already know beforehand all that will happen, He feels along with us every moment. The Eternal thus makes for individuals who desire to think and feel within Himself exactly what He thinks and feels.

In order that we can better understand the repentance of the Eternal, let us consider some of the excerpts that depict this:

1 - THE ETERNAL GRIEVED (REPENTED) by SOMETHING THAT MADE

·         "And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them." (Gen 6.6,7).

 

It all started with the Eternal sharing His sorrow for anyone who professed a theoretical faith in Him:

 

·         "And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth." (Gen 6.13).

 

Unfortunately, these "believers" could not see the longsuffering of the Eternal hope that all come to repent and convert (1Peter 3.20; 2Peter 3.9). Unfortunately, these "believers", in their rebellion against the plans of the Eternal, were asking for the death of the entire human race. The land was so full of violence that prayer that was coming, on their part, until the face of the Eternal was toward the end of all flesh. 

In the face of this, when He experienced physically, through the life of every human being exists at the time, the desire that each one had to destroy others and stay alive alone with your spouse and children, the heart of the Eternal was taken of great sorrow. Result: the sadness at having to destroy the entire human race (with the exception of eight individuals) took over the heart of the Eternal.

The Eternal, then, communicated this sadness to Noah, which responds favorably to His Grace (Favor) (Genesis 6.8). See the importance of this: the land was  filled with violence (Gen 6.11) and all flesh (including animals) had corrupted their way before Him (Genesis 6.12). Despite this, Noah managed to find space for the favor of the Eternal in his life.

Think about how this is strong! Even in the midst of so much evil, even though it not being possible to see the mercy of the Eternal giving fruit, yet Noah managed to remain firm being used for the Eternal to manifest His favor (how happened with Paul - Philippians 3.10).

Comes the question: how did he manage that? He accepted receive in himself the same grace that has been given to the individuals in the New Testament.

In other words, Gen 6.6 could be translated as: 

 

·         Then grieved the Lord that He had made man on the earth, and it grieved in His heart.

 

Lastly, when He saw the sadness of each one for having to live with other people, the Eternal felt in His heart the burden of having to destroy all creation (men, birds and land animals) and told that to Noah in order to give a further opportunity for the human being to be able to see their mistakes, repent, convert and turn to Him. 

This shows how much sin leaves the Eternal sad, how he is sensitive to all manner of evil, as well as how much He cares about what we spend and with the injustices that happening here. 

2 - THE ETERNAL GRIEVED (REPENTED) of what HE SAID HE WOULD DO

Here the Eternal wants to show the value that there is when He finds a fair through which He can intercede (see also Num 14.20; Jer 5.1; Ezek 22.30; Rom 8:26). This does not mean that the Eternal is influenced by words or attitudes of the human being. The Eternal does not change (Malachi 3.6; Hebrew 13.8; James 1.16,17)! 

In all cases below, the Eternal was sad with the evil that humans were bringing to themselves and invites a prophet to share their grief (repentance):

In other words, it is possible to see how easy it is the Eternal feel sorrow for the evil that has to come upon us. His sadness is such that if He find someone through whom He can intercede on our behalf (Jer 5.1; Rom 8:26), He saves the town.

Let us analyze each case:

I - "And the LORD repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people." (Exodus 32.14).

·         "And the LORD said unto Moses, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people: now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation. And Moses besought the LORD his God, and said, LORD, why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people, which thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power, and with a mighty hand? Wherefore should the Egyptians speak, and say, For mischief did he bring them out, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth? Turn from thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against thy people. Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swarest by thine own self, and saidst unto them, I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed, and they shall inherit it for ever. And the LORD repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people." (Exodus 32.9-14).

 

The Eternal, here, shows Moses the feeling that spring up in His heart when the evil takes hold of his people. His appreciation for love, truth and justice is such that, if He does not find someone through whom He can fill the gaps in heart, He will have to destroy evil in order that their beloved children will not be corrupted:

 

·         "Her princes in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain. And her prophets have daubed them with untempered morter, seeing vanity, and divining lies unto them, saying, Thus saith the Lord GOD, when the LORD hath not spoken. The people of the land have used oppression, and exercised robbery, and have vexed the poor and needy: yea, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully. And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none. Therefore have I poured out mine indignation upon them; I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath: their own way have I recompensed upon their heads, saith the Lord GOD. " (Ezekiel 22.27-31).

 

As the Eternal saw that there was in the heart of Moses space to share their feelings, He revealed to him the pain He felt at having to judge those who He loves. The idea is that Moses want to fight for this rebellious people in order that the name of the Eternal may be glorified and, with this, many could be saved. 

This was the way that the Eternal found to appease the heart of Moses. The Eternal knew he would get angry to see lost all their work of seeking the favor of the Eternal to Israel, while they were lost in the orgy and idolatry. 

And it worked! In the end, instead of giving up guiding the people or of wanting to punish them, he only broke one of the greatest relics of humanity: the tables that were written with the finger of the Eternal (Exodus 31.18; Deut 9.10).

In short: The Eternal told Moses His sorrow at having to leave His anger consume His beloved people and, in which Moises embraced the cause of the Eternal, He can feel, through him, the sadness of having to pronounce a death sentence.

He feels sorrow for having to threaten individuals, for having to announce a harsh sentence to convince individuals to let themselves be transformed by Him.

II - " The LORD repented for this: It shall not be, saith the LORD.  " (Amos 7.3).

" The LORD repented for this: This also shall not be, saith the Lord GOD. " (Amos 7.6).

The Eternal did not want to send these two reproaches. When He really wants to do something, He does, as came about to follow (Amos 7.7-9). 

 What the Eternal wanted was to show to Amos the severity of the evil that His justice demanded that come upon Israel. Amos should see that all the evil that was happening with Israel was a manifestation of His justice and, if nobody had in his hand to proclaim His word, the total destruction of Israel would be inevitable.

In that Amos agreed to be touched by the sorrow of the Eternal for having to do this, the Eternal can bless Jeroboam, and give a relief to servitude that Israel came being submitted. The Eternal knew the misery of Israel was very bitter, and there was not a slave, neither acquitted nor any helper for Israel. And, as He had not still spoken about blot out the name of Israel from under the heavens, He made a point to try all the sadness of this evil in the life of Amos (2Kings 14.26,27).

Finally, the Eternal wanted to show to Amos what it would happen if nobody would dispose themselves in His hands to discipline Israel: this would have to be eliminated from the face of the earth. See that all the destruction suffered by Israel wasn’t sufficient for they repent and turn. Israel was weakened, but insisted on the apostasy until to go to captivity (see 2Kings 13.7; Amos 7.2,5).

 

III – “Therefore now amend your ways and your doings, and obey the voice of the LORD your God; and the LORD will repent him of the evil that he hath pronounced against you.” (Jeremiah 26.13)

"Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah put him at all to death? did he not fear the LORD, and besought the LORD, and the LORD repented him of the evil which he had pronounced against them? Thus might we procure great evil against our souls." (Jeremiah 26.19).

The same occurred at the time of Hezekiah.

IV - "And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not." (Jonah 3.10).

Here the Eternal wanted to operate in Jonah the same as in Moses and Amos. Unfortunately, his heart was closed for this.

However, it pleased the Eternal to use a infidel serve to proclaim His word precisely in order to prove to us that their plans can never be frustrated (Job 42.2; Is 43.13). Jonah has not announced the word of the Eternal with accuracy (in his message, he did not give the Nineveh chance to repent (Jn 3.4)), nor announced the word throughout the city (he went by way of a day when Nineveh needed three days to be covered (Jonah 3.3,4). Notwithstanding, the Eternal allowed Jonah to proclaim his Word so relaxed so that He could show that, in spite of the failures of His servants, none of their plans can be thwarted (Job 42.2).

Once Jonah did not want to feel the sadness of the Eternal by the evil which should be about Nineveh, He made all the people of Nineveh regretted all this evil. Here is quite clear that the Eternal does not depend on the fidelity of any of His servants to operate His wonders.

The main lesson of the book of Jonah is in chapter 4: show the importance of compassion to all who, like Jonah, wish that the Eternal annihilate the wicked. It shows that even the worst country in the world is able to receive from the Eternal the ability to repent.

Despite the failure of Jonah, the Eternal might manifest to the Ninevites their sadness in having to destroy them. In which they received this sadness in their hearts and allowed it to be made manifest in their flesh, the Eternal might experience sorrow for having allowed Jonah to preach wrong Your message so terrible.

Understand the severity of the problem: for the Eternal, when He commits a word, it becomes alive. In other words, to allow Jonah prophesy wrong, evil began to come about Nineveh and would get there within 40 days, apparently without any possibility that this could be held (remember that Jonah did not say "if you do not repent and convert, Nineveh shall be overthrown." He just said that Nineveh would be irreparably destroyed). However, as the compassion of the Eternal is larger than the hard heart of men (including the one of Jonah), He revealed something that was hidden to Jonah and all: His compassion does not depend on anyone (men), neither of whom runs (Jonah), but only and exclusively of Him (Romans 9.15,16).

Jonah, as well as the majority today, thought that the compassion of the Eternal would depend on the good will of the individual in strive to repent, which in turn depend on the excellence of the preaching (contradicting 1Corinthians 2.1-5). This is why he preached anyway: so that the people would consider him crazy or didn't understand the message and, thus, not to convert themselves and, thus, were destroyed.

But the Eternal revealed that His repentance is absolute and overcomes the evil of the preachers of the faith and the ignorance of the lost and who really receive His sadness by evil that has to come on the neighbor inside of oneself may be saved from sin.

V – “In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came unto him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order: for thou shalt die, and not live.  Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall, and prayed unto the LORD, and said, Remember now, O LORD, I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore. Then came the word of the LORD to Isaiah, saying, go, and say to Hezekiah, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen years.” (Isaiah 38.1-5).

Many use this to say that the Eternal regretted (changed of opinion) after the crying and prayer of Hezekiah.

WRONG! The Eternal wanted to show all what happens when we we refuse to embrace His plans for us. Often we complain when the Eternal don’t hear our prayers. To agree in hearing the request of Hezekiah, the Eternal wanted to show how we do not know ask what is good (Romans 8.26).

After all, it was in these fifteen years that the Eternal added to Hezekiah that born the worst king that Israel had, which was responsible for going of Israel to captivity (2Kings 23.26; 24.3).

Not to mention that was in these fifteen years that Hezekiah exposed all Israel’ riches to Babylonians, giving them motivation to, years later, invades Jerusalem (Isaiah 39).

Conclusion

The sadness begins in the Eternal in His spirit, is communicated to the heart of one of His servants, and, then, He seeks, along with His servant, a possibility of repentance with those who He loves and, therefore, want to be saved:

 

·         "At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it; if that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them. And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it; if it do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them.” (Jeremiah 18.7-10).

 

If the individual to receive repentance (sadness) of the Eternal within himself, this is a proof that the Eternal found place in his heart to repent (sadden) by evil that it was necessary to come. 

To be clear: first the Eternal Regret (sadden) of the evil that He announced to, only then, operate the repentance and conversion in the life of sinners (and not the contrary, as if the Eternal that act conditioned to the response of the man).

When this nation accepts the repentance of the Eternal within oneself, He gives this nation the opportunity to experience His abundant Favor (Romans 5.17) which transforms curse into blessing, so that their paths became a blessing.

In the same way, first the Eternal Regret (sadden) for the well that announced in favor of a sinner to, only then, this one sadden oneself of doing good to those who he thinks that don’t deserve. As a result, the good don’t come.

You may wonder: why the Eternal would do this? Let us suppose that Israel ceases to hear the voice of the Eternal and resolve to make covenant with a wicked country B (Hosea 8.4). To discipline Israel, the Eternal promises to bless them. However, when the blessing begins to come, Israel begins to delve further into sin, because the prosperity of the wicked country give free course to all the evil that is in their heart. 

From there, those who are of the Eternal began to grieve for the prosperity that came upon Israel (see Habakkuk 1.2-4).

Although the Eternal take pleasure in kindness, mercy, when someone insists on evil, He got sad to continue doing good to someone who does nothing but make His other children suffer (and the Eternal hates the evil – Psalms 5.4,5; James 1.13; 3John 11). Hence, then, allows each one to reap what they sowed (Gal 6.9).

3 - The Eternal Regret (SADDEN) OF EVIL THAT IS RUNNING

Case 1

·         " And when the angel stretched out his hand upon Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed the people, It is enough: stay now thine hand. And the angel of the LORD was by the threshingplace of Araunah the Jebusite. " (2 Samuel 24.16).

·         "And God sent an angel unto Jerusalem to destroy it: and as he was destroying, the LORD beheld, and he repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed, It is enough, stay now thine hand. And the angel of the LORD stood by the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite. " (1 Chronicles 21.15).

 

Here the Eternal had been angry with Israel (2Sm 24.1). He was saddened by the behavior of the Israelites. All the times that the Israelites passed to worship other gods, they invented rituals and dogmas in order to have more excuses to suck up the people and, thus, have their desires satisfied.

In order that David felt in the skin his failure to the shepherd Israel (similar to what happened in Luke 13:6-9), the Eternal allowed him to be seduced by the deception of your desires.

To allow the judgment fall on 70,000 (2Sam 24.15), the Eternal wanted David and Araunah would see how evil Israel stood before Him and as He grieved to have to send such a judgment and how much weighed in His heart have to continue (note that David and Araunah saw the angel with the drawn sword - 1Chronicles 21.16,20,27).

In other words, the Eternal worked His sadness in the heart of David so that He didn't need to send more judgment against Israel.

Note how the Eternal gives His repentance to His people (2 Timothy 2.25,26): He grieves in seeing the sin dominating His people, and then communicates this sadness to those who belong to Him, giving occasion for His Spirit to wash and regenerate them.

Case 2

·         " And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God? " (Joel 2.13,14).

 

Here is the instruction of the Eternal about what is required to receive repentance for salvation:

 

1.    Have the heart torn, because only thus His mercy and compassion has how to exit from the innermost and to reach the individuals around. Once the desire of the Spirit of the Eternal is that from our interior outbreak rivers of Living Water (John 7.37-39) who jump to the eternal life (John 4.13,14), the only way to this to come about is if the heart is not closed in itself;

2.    Convert to the Eternal, because only when the individual recognizes the Eternal as the unique God and feel His heart is that such person becomes gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy, and able to grieve with evil. It is only from this moment that the individual sees the true reality of judgment of the Eternal, as well as as what He feels if this has to happen and, then, begins to feel sorrow at evil that must fall on the sinners.

3.    Stop of oppressing and dominating one over others:

·         “For the LORD shall judge his people, and repent himself for his servants, when he seeth that their power is gone, and there is none shut up, or left.” (Deut 32.36).

 

From then, the individual is able to be worked by the sadness of the Eternal and, thus, to be saved from the power of evil (see Jeremiah 9.17,18).

4 - THE ETERNAL GET TIRED OF REPENTING (GRIEVE HIMSELF) WHEN HIS PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO EVEN SEE THE PRIVILEGE OF BELONGING TO HIM

·         " Their enemies also oppressed them, and they were brought into subjection under their hand. Many times did he deliver them; but they provoked him with their counsel, and were brought low for their iniquity. Nevertheless he regarded their affliction, when he heard their cry: And he remembered for them his covenant, and repented according to the multitude of his mercies. " (Psalms 106.42-45).

·         "Thou hast forsaken me, saith the LORD, thou art gone backward: therefore will I stretch out my hand against thee, and destroy thee; I am weary with repenting." (Jeremiah 15.6).

 

Judah, since that was separate from Israel, behave like an accordion: when the king was a worshipper of the Eternal, Judah worshipped Him; when the king was evil, Judah worshiped other gods (Judges 2.17-19). For centuries, the Eternal has tolerated this, seeking to work their repentance (His sadness) in the heart of Israel. 

Finally, the Eternal got tired of working His repentance in the heart of Israel, coming to allow Manasseh sinned in abundance (2Kings 24.3; Jeremiah 15.4) and, with this, become inevitable the captivity. Israel wanted to be free from the oppressors in order to oppress others and exploit them. Unfortunately, Israel will not saw the privilege of being a kingdom separated for the exclusive use of the Eternal.

Although the Eternal has no pleasure in the death of the wicked (Ezek 33.11), do not mourn anyone willingly (Lam 3.33) and take pleasure in the use of goodness and mercy (Micah 7.18), His patience has a limit:

 

·         "And let that man be like the cities which the LORD overthrew, and repented not; and listen to cry in the morning, and the noon time the shouting." (Jeremiah 20.16). 

 

There are moments that all creation longs to see the judgments of the Eternal (and even need it), because:

 

·         " With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness. Let favour be shewed to the wicked, yet will he not learn righteousness: in the land of uprightness will he deal unjustly, and will not behold the majesty of the LORD.  " (Isaiah 26.9,10).

 

Thus, the Eternal got tired of operating the repentance in the heart of Judah so that no evil come upon them (see also Ezekiel 24.14). 

For you to understand this, imagine you doing everything to rid your son of the jail, but he continues to deepen in evil. There comes a time when you get tired of free him and  leaves him free to reap the evil that has sown (Galatians 6.7-9) so that, who knows, he dispose himself to change his life.

Similarly, the Eternal get grieved to have to allow this in the lives of their children. Notwithstanding, who knows when he sees the sadness (repentance) of the Eternal by seeing him reaping the fruits of his wickedness, instead of being able to have his life more well used, he comes to repent, convert and surrender to Christ?

Although everything that the Eternal do bear fruit, notwithstanding there are rebel branches who refuse to bear fruit and, therefore, need to be removed; while fruitful branches need to be cleaned to give more fruit (John 15.2). 

In short: after showing His love by giving someone all the opportunities of repentance, He shows His love making him feel on the skin all the sorrow that the sin brings with it and brings grief to Him (Hebrews 12.5-8).

5 -  THE ETERNAL REPENTED (LAMENTED) BY A TAKEN DECISION

“If ye will still abide in this land, then will I build you, and not pull you down, and I will plant you, and not pluck you up: for I repent me of the evil that I have done unto you.” (Jeremiah 42.10)

Initially, just prophet Jeremiah gave place for that the Eternal expressed His sadness (repentance) by all evil that it should come on Jerusalem.

Hardness of heart was such that the result was the captivity in Babylon, the death of thousands.

Now, again, the Eternal tries to communicate to remaining that abode of the destruction of Jerusalem all He felt to see such destruction. Unfortunately, the people did not trust in the Eternal (Jeremiah 43.1-4).

 

"Then came the word of the LORD unto Samuel, saying, it repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the LORD all night. " (1 Samuel 15.10,11).

"And Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death: nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul: and the LORD repented that he had made Saul king over Israel." (1 Samuel 15.35)

 

Here, the idea was to teach an important lesson for Samuel (which, by the way, he took a while to learn) and for all who are guided by the appearance (1Sam 16.6,7). The Eternal chose Saul to be the first king of Israel because he had the best appearance among all the children of Israel (1Sam 9.2). The idea is that Samuel (as well as all other who believed and would go to believe in the Eternal) see how Saul would fail to be faithful to the Eternal, as well as the immense evil that this would bring to Israel and how this will sadden His heart. 

The goal is that Samuel saw how painful is to love someone by their appearance (see 1 Samuel 16.1) and, thus, realized the need to seek in the Eternal a change in the way of seeing and understanding the things.

This is why Samuel says:

 

·         "And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent." (1 Samuel 15.29).

 

Although Samuel had mourn for Saul and wanted the Eternal to return behind in His decision, once He settled something, He does not back as if He had lied or changed His mind, as does the man.

What can happen is the Eternal regret (grieve) because of something He, spoke, did or need to do (as happened in virtue of He has established Saul as king).

He felt this sadness and tried to communicate it to Samuel. Unfortunately, the only sadness that was found in the heart of Samuel was the rejection of Saul by Eternal.

Conclusion

I hope you have learned the difference.

The Eternal never repents as man, i.e., regretting His choices and attitudes. He keeps His plans until the end, even feeling sadness (repentance) for this.

See again the case of Saul: although the Eternal has been sad for seeing Saul to reign, He allowed Saul remained in the reign until the entire plan which He had established originally for Saul to be completed (see Romans 11.29).

Similarly, although the Eternal had repented (saddened) by having created man at the time of Noah, He allowed that whole generation lived for over a hundred years (even suffering from the wickedness of them day after day).

Similarly, hurt the heart of the Eternal every time the sword of the angel of Him killed someone in Israel at the time of David and Araunah. But He endured all that pain only in order that David and all Israel had the opportunity to convert and repent. He remained faithful to the plan until the end.

And this can be seen in Christ: Despite having suffered horrors in body, soul and spirit, He did not repent. Instead, He remained steadfast in the Father's plan until the end.