Tuesday, August 13, 2019

D.E. Hart-Davies: The Book of Jonah and God Changing His Mind as a Result of Human Repentance


The book of Jonah is a very good example of the contingent nature of prophecy as well as the contingent nature of God’s foreknowledge. For more on this and related topics, see:


Russell Ashdown's response to Eric Johnson, Is It Fair to Compare Joseph Smith with the Prophet Jonah?


To see the problem Jonah, the repentance of the inhabits of Nineveh, and God changing his mind to traditional views of foreknowledge, consider the following where, although the author argues for the “traditional” view of foreknowledge, based on the plain meaning of the text, that God changes His mind (cf. Jer 18:7-10):

The Repentance of Jehovah ([Jon 3:]10). “And God saw their works, that they turned form their evil way; and God repented of the evil which He said He would do unto them; and He did it not.” This is a statement as to the Divine action, described from the human standpoint. “With God is no variableness neither shadow of turning.” That statement in the Epistle of St. James is true with respect to God’s providence and untrue with respect to God’s providence and unfailing love. But throughout the whole realm of Holy Scripture we are taught that whensoever man repents, God repents. Human penitence transforms divine purpose. The Assyrian king had conquered many enemies by his valour; he conquered God by his humility. For God’s compassions fail not. “As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live.” (D.E. Hart-Davies, Jonah: Prophet and Patriot [London: Chas. J. Thynne and Jarvis, Ltd., 1925], 83-84)