For follow-up discussion and general commentary on the topic. Comments are sorted chronologically.
Iraj G
Through scripture we see time after time that the Heavenly Father, almighty God, changes His mind out of His compassion and love. What does not change and is immutable is God's character.
Mary McDonald
I can't give you how God sees us, I can only answer as a Mother to my children. I allowed my children to let their rooms get to a certain point, then tell them time to clean their rooms. If it doesn't happen in a day or two, they are told again to clean their rooms, and if they don't I will clean it and everything, not put away properly, would be put in a garbage bag for the next trash pick up. They didn't believe me till I got a broom and swept the whole mess into a pile in the hall while I got a garbage bag. They cleaned up their stuff pretty fast, and helped put the real trash in the bag.
As they got older and rebellious teens they repeatedly ignored the clean up rule. I was working now, so they ignored rules more often, unlike God I had grown tired. Finally I set the ultimatum again. They didn't believe it now, their stuff was more costly and important. But true to my word, I cleaned up for them as I warned. Their stuff was all bagged and taken to the trash can.
My rule did not change, their choice to respond changed. They started being more attentive to the rules again. (I also noted the next day, the trash bags were nearly empty.)
Now, had one of them gotten sick in the time frame I had given, they would have had a "grace" period. Still not a change of my mind, but grace under the circumstances.
I have made many mistakes with my kids, but isn't this an example of how God is with us? Wanting us to listen to Him, but chastizing us when we ignore Him?
Danny Hickman
You and my wife Faye had the same system. She did the exact same thing. If my children left things out that she had repeatedly told them to put away, she would throw it in the trash can. My children constantly checked the trash can for their things. They didn't let the garbage be picked up before sifting it to see if they had things set to be collected.
My two older daughters did my grandkids that way when they were growing up. It's a practical strategy to get children to be conscientious. It says, 'you'd better think about the cost of being disobedient; put your things where they are supposed to be.'
(The crazy part is that SHE BOUGHT the things of theirs that she was threatening to throw away!!) That's the part of it that I believe some of us forget. We forget how much God has invested in all of us! And how much is that?
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but will have everlasting life (John 3:16).
God is intentional in all of His decisions! His glory is never threatened! Has He ever spoken a word and later retracted? Yes! Was it because He was previously wrong or mistaken? Had He overlooked something? No!
When God went to Abraham with His plan to destroy the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, He was giving Abraham a shot at convincing Him to come up with a different plan for how to get the people to "clean up their room." But He didn't change His standard.
God doesn't change His mind!