“I Am The Lord, I Change Not” – 3/20/25
The statement above is found in Malachi 3:6. This is a testament to the unchangeable nature of God, a constant in our lives. His demeanor, love, faithfulness, justice, and mercy remain unwavering, providing us with a reliable foundation for our faith.
Sometimes, when people read a passage like Malachi 3:6, they make wrong assumptions. For example, some say that because God says He does not change, His law has never changed. We know this is not the case (Heb. 7:12-14; II Cor. 3:6-17). We know God was willing to change His plans and make a great nation from Moses’ family rather than Abraham’s when the Israelites had rebelled against God at Sinai (Ex. 32:10). In this text, we see God willing to relent or change His mind at that statement and continue with the original plan also (Ex. 32:11-14). These and other examples show us that just because it says God does not change, it does not mean He does not change His mind or His law or that He cannot be convinced to consider something man would request (Isa. 38:1-5). God’s consistent nature does not mean His will is not open to change.
When we read the texts that say that God does not change, those verses let us know the specific areas in which God does not change. For example, in our text (Mal. 3:6-7), we read, “For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. Even from the days of your fathers, ye are gone away from mine ordinances and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts.” Thus, in this text, He is saying he would not change when it came to the sons of Jacob. Even at this time, when they were in sin, and He had confronted them about many things (Mal. 1-2), God promised He would not change and destroy these people. He was still willing to accept them when they repented. God intended to bring the Savior into the world through the family of Jacob, specifically Judah. God promised He would not change on them. From this passage, we know it is not saying that God does not change at all! God is not going to change concerning His attitude toward the Jews! This was their encouragement to return to Him.
While the term “I change not” is not there, Numbers 23:19 teaches a similar thing when Balaam said, “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?” When we read the complete context (Num. 23:18-24), we see that Balak wanted Israel cursed, and Balaam would not do it. Balaam was not saying that God will never change in any way. He was saying God would not change concerning blessing those Balak wanted cursed!
Another passage that fits our study is 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.” In the context of James 1, we see God contrasted with man. Men are changeable (v. 6-8, 16), but God does not change (v. 17). Again, it is not a “blanket statement,” but in this context, He does not vary between righteousness and wickedness. There is no “speck” (if I can use that term) of darkness in God. Men are changeable and waver between righteousness and sin, but this is not true with “the Father of lights”! This contrast should humble us and instill a deep respect for God in us.
These are a few passages declaring the unchangeableness of God. Let us be encouraged by the strength and stability of God! He is not unreasonable in that there are no areas in which He sometimes changes. In fact, there have been times when He planned for changes to occur (i.e., Jer. 31:31-34). At the same time, He is our “rock” (II Sam. 22:2, 32, 47). He is unswerving and a steadfast shelter to us (Ps. 61:2-3). We see Malachi teaching this in his book (3:6). Let us be thankful we serve a God like this and be grateful for His unchangeable ways!
– Jarrod M. Jacobs