## Changing God

## Genesis 18:17-33

Women are often characterized as folks who are noted for changing their minds. But, it isn't just women is it? We all make changes. Hopefully we are making changes that will enable us to become more effective in ministry toward others.

(MAL 3:6) "FOR I AM THE LORD, I CHANGE NOT; THEREFORE YE SONS OF JACOB ARE NOT CONSUMED."

Tonight I want us to consider changing an unchangeable God. By definition, God is unchanging. He cannot change! Yet the Bible is filled with instances where people brought about a change in circumstances and in God.

I. The paradox of intercessory prayer.

A. Most of our prayers ask God to change things.

1. This is perfectly legitimate. Jesus tells us to.

2. But it does raise some sticky questions about God.

B. Problems with prayer.

1. Does prayer change God's will?

2. What happens when we don't pray?

3. What if God wants one thing, and I want another?

4. Does God limit his power and authority by answering prayers?

C. God is sovereign, yet prayers are effective.

1. These two concepts shouldn't fit together.

a. What seems to be a contradiction is actually a paradox.

b. Our limited minds will never be able to figure it exactly.

2. God has factored our prayers and His sovereign desires into one plan in ways that we cannot fully understand.

II. When God seems to change his mind.

A. The impact of an intercessor.

1. Abraham intercedes for Sodom (and Lot) in Genesis 18.

2. Moses intercedes for disobedient Israel.

3. Consider Exodus 32:11-14

4. God repented, changed His mind or direction toward Israel.

5. Jesus is greatest intercessor.

(1 TIM 2:5) "FOR THERE IS ONE GOD, AND ONE MEDIATOR BETWEEN GOD AND MEN, THE MAN CHRIST JESUS;"

a. Our situation changes.

b. We go from being condemned to death to being set free from the penalty and power of sin.

B. Is God really changing? No.

1. God doesn't "shift" like shadows or politicians.

(JAMES 1:17) "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."

2. Balaam wavers, but God does not.

(NUM 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?"

3. He does not change at all, which is good for us!

III. God is not unchanging like a rock.

A. Rocks do not respond to their environment.

1. God is alive, He will respond to us in our individual situations.

a. He doesn't come down to our level, but His will is already adjusted to what our response is.

b. He is Sovreign, He doesn't approve of all we do:

c. But, His will may include judgment as well as blessing.

2. He is unchanging, in that he will always do the right thing.

(GEN 18:25) "THAT BE FAR FROM THEE TO DO AFTER THIS MANNER, TO SLAY THE RIGHTEOUS WITH THE WICKED: AND THAT THE RIGHTEOUS SHOULD BE AS THE WICKED, THAT BE FAR FROM THEE: SHALL NOT THE JUDGE OF ALL THE EARTH DO RIGHT?"

3. Prayers cannot and will not ever cause Him to deviate from who He is.

B. But God can be moved emotionally.

1. He chooses to enter into relationships with us.

2. He is affected by our choices and actions, obedience and disobedience.

3. God acts, but his actions for us will always correspond to the changes we make in ourselves.

(EZEK 33:13-16) "WHEN I SHALL SAY TO THE RIGHTEOUS, THAT HE SHALL SURELY LIVE; IF HE TRUST TO HIS OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND COMMIT INIQUITY, ALL HIS RIGHTEOUSNESSES SHALL NOT BE REMEMBERED; BUT FOR HIS INIQUITY THAT HE HATH COMMITTED, HE SHALL DIE FOR IT. {14} AGAIN, WHEN I SAY UNTO THE WICKED, THOU SHALT SURELY DIE; IF HE TURN FROM HIS SIN, AND DO THAT WHICH IS LAWFUL AND RIGHT; {15} IF THE WICKED RESTORE THE PLEDGE, GIVE AGAIN THAT HE HAD ROBBED, WALK IN THE STATUTES OF LIFE, WITHOUT COMMITTING INIQUITY; HE SHALL SURELY LIVE, HE SHALL NOT DIE. {16} NONE OF HIS SINS THAT HE HATH COMMITTED SHALL BE MENTIONED UNTO HIM: HE HATH DONE THAT WHICH IS LAWFUL AND RIGHT; HE SHALL SURELY LIVE."

4. It is not God, but we who change.

III. How God brings about change.

A. Abraham and Sodom. cf Genesis 18

1. God informs Abraham of his concern over Sodom's sin.

2. God waited for Abraham to respond, and affirmed Abraham in his evaluation of the situation.

3. It appears that Abraham was haggling with God.

a. Actually, God is drawing him out.

b. In this way Abraham could learn how to depend on God's righteous and merciful character.

4. God was true to his nature: He judged the city for its sin, but did not punish the righteous with the wicked.

B. We need to be motivated by this example.

1. When trying to make a decision, we need to consider what God's will is in situation.

2. We need to ask ourselves, 'Does this action of mine honor God?'

3. We need to live our lives in agreement with God's will as revealed through His Word.

C. Ignorance is bliss.

1. When we don't know what God's specific will is.

2. We should live as if you can influence it .

3. Because in a very real sense, we can.

4. We cannot dictate to God what He must or must not do, but we can pray and ask for what is on our hearts.

Does God change, certainly not His character. He is the same today, yesterday, and forever. But He is a living God who is touched by the power of prayer. He will not be changed in the sense of who He is, but our prayers can make a difference in how He chooses to work out His will.

Have you changed heaven? Don't be lulled into complacency thinking that God will do what He wants to do anyway. And that there is no point in praying. James tells us that "... The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."