Biblical Contradiction: God is or is not changeable:

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Biblical Contradiction Explained: God is changeable or unchangeable:

God is unchangeable:

“For I, the LORD, do not change; therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed.

Malachi 3:6

Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.

James 1:17

God is changeable:

The LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.

Genesis 6:6

In those days Hezekiah became mortally ill. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him and said to him, “Thus says the LORD, ‘Set your house in order, for you shall die and not live.’” Then he turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, saying, “Remember now, O LORD, I beseech You, how I have walked before You in truth and with a whole heart and have done what is good in Your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly. Before Isaiah had gone out of the middle court, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, “Return and say to Hezekiah the leader of My people, ‘Thus says the LORD, the God of your father David, “I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; behold, I will heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the LORD. I will add fifteen years to your life, and I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for My own sake and for My servant David’s sake.”’”

2 Kings 20:1-6

Explanation:

These two apparent contradictions should be reviewed independently. We will begin with Genesis 6:6 (God’s grief over the world he created):

Genesis 6:6

The change in God’s emotional response to the condition of the world does not necessarily identify a change in God. According to Genesis 6:6 God was grieved over the condition and unrighteousness of man; to whom he has given the freewill. Though God was sorry he made man, it does not suggest God wished he did not make man (indicating a change in God’s mind).

If this were the case God would simply have eliminated all men. However, what we see is God spares Noah and his family; suggesting God does not regret making man. Only that he was distraught over the decisions they have made using their freewill.

2 Kings 20:1-6

The apparent contradiction in 2 Kings 20:1-6 is simply an issue of prayer. According to Christian theology, prayer does not change God’s mind (which would indicate a change in God). Prayer enables God to do that which he already wants to do but would conflict with an individual’s freewill. By praying, a Christian allows God to infringe upon their own freewill so that God’s will may be done. This is not a change in God, it is a change in man.

The direction Hezekiah’s life was heading due to the choices he has made with this freewill was eminent death. However, it was God’s will that Hezekiah lives. Because God will not infringe upon man’s freewill, Hezekiah was going to die soon. When Hezekiah prayed to God, he gave God permission to exact his own will (God’s will). Although we do not know exactly what Hezekiah’s prayer was (as it is not recorded in this passage) we can be certain that Hezekiah’s prayer included the traditional plea that “God’s Will” be done.