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Ray's New Bible Study for May

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Akira329:
This was a very hard one for me.
I'm still not sure about one thing and that is Numbers 23:19
Which states:
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?

I understand that the word repent here does not mean what it means in greek but the issue is that it still says that God is not a man that he should repent. Whether it means sorrow or pity God does not do these things because he is not a man.
The verse also says why, because he will do the things he says and those things will be good!!

So.........if Genesis 6:7 says that God felt pity in his heart why does Numbers 23:19 say different.
Ray said it was a contradiction but he never addressed it in the audio.
Can some one help my understanding?? Did I miss something?? Please help my head hurts over this one!LOL

Antaiwan

Akira329:
I guess I should also say that repent in Numbers 23:19 is the same Hebrew word in Genesis 6:7
So how can both be true???

My brain is mush over this one

Deborah-Leigh:
God is not a God that He should regret or have any regrets because God sees the end from the beginning and in the end He shall wipe away all tears and He shall restore all things to Himself and He shall swallow up death in victory. In between there are judgments and God is not a God that can be manipulated or changed. God will have not regrets because God is God and He is Good, Wise, Powerful and Love.

Hope this helps.

Peace to you

Arcturus :)

Akira329:
Hey Arcturus,
It didn't really help me. sorry :-\

I understand that God is all these things as you have said but Numbers 23:19 is still there
I understand that the word repent here in these verses does not mean regret.
But my conflict is that it does say that God does not repent and the others say he does.
Emphasize that I know repent does not mean regret or changed his mind.

repent as defined in strong's:
A primitive root; properly to sigh, that is, breathe strongly; by implication to be sorry, that is, (in a favorable sense) to pity, console or (reflexively) rue; or (unfavorably) to avenge (oneself): - comfort (self), ease [one’s self], repent (-er, -ing, self).
This is what I understood from ray's teaching but it would seem he didn't address the contradiction(or apparent one).

The verse still says he doesn't feel the way men feel, but Genesis 6:7 shows he does have these types of feelings in his heart.
Again not regret
ahh I really want to understand this.................

Kat:

Hi Antaiwan,

Gen 6:5 Then Yahweh saw that great, was the wickedness of man in the earth, and that, every purpose of the devices of His heart, was only wicked all the day;
v. 6 and it grieved Yahweh, that He had made man in the earth,—and He took sorrow unto His heart. (Rotherham)

God is lamenting over what He sees happening, even though He knew it would happen and He does not regret it, because this is how God's plan was suppose to go.  God is full of love for His creation and He does not enjoy watching the process that is being worked out here.
Jesus one time spoke how He would like to gather up all of Jerusalem and protect them like a mother hen, and yes He knew that was not God's plan.

Mat 23:37 Jerusalem! Jerusalem! that slayeth the prophets, and stoneth them that have been sent unto her,—how often, would I have gathered thy children, like as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings,—and ye would not!

Then in verse 7 God is now saying what must happen as part of His plan.

Gen 6:7 And Yahweh said—I must wipe off man whom I created from off the face of the ground, from man unto beast unto creeping thing, and unto the bird of the heavens,—for I am grieved that I made them.

Sometimes I go to a movie and I know it's a story about something terrible that has happened and will be sad, even thought I know what is suppose to happen, I still am overcome with sadness and tears when I watch it happen.
God does not enjoy seeing all this evil and suffering of mankind here on earth, but His plan calls for it and the ultimate good it will bring.

Eze 33:11  Say to them: "As I live,' says the Lord GOD, "I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?'


Num 23:19 GOD is, not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of Adam, that He should repent,—Hath, he, said, and will not perform? Yea spoken, and will not make it stand fast?

In this verse it says "God is not a man," and then it shows one way He is not like man "that He should lie."  And it continues by saying "Nor a son of Adam," and then it says how "that He should repent."  The word "repent" is directed towards a particular thing "a son of Adam," that's all of mankind, that have sinned and are in need of repentance.  But God has no need to repent, like mankind!  
So this is just giving reference to ways God is not like a man.

Rom 3:23  For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

2Pe 3:9  The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

1Co 15:22  For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.

Hope this helps  :)

mercy, peace and love
Kat

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