God's pattern of thought and attitude of heart is holy, righteous and good. It is expressed in his law and his word, and also in the outworking of his mercy, but it is, ultimately, beyond human understanding.
God's mind is expressed in his law and his word
Exodus 20:1–17 See also Deuteronomy 4:1–2, Deuteronomy 6:1, Deuteronomy 6:24–25; Psalm 119:4, Psalm 119:34, Psalm 119:66, Psalm 119:89, Psalm 119:105, Psalm 119:130
The mind of God is holy, righteous and good
Romans 7:7 See also Deuteronomy 4:8; Numbers 23:19; 1 Samuel 15:29; 2 Samuel 22:31 parallel Psalm 18:30; Proverbs 30:5; Psalm 19:7–10, Psalm 119:68, Psalm 119:75, Psalm 119:137–138, Psalm 119:142; John 17:17; Romans 7:12
What then shall we say? Is the law sin? Certainly not! Indeed, I would not have been mindful of sin if not for the law. For I would not have been aware of coveting if the law had not said, “Do not covet.”
The mind of God is also expressed in his merciful acts
Ephesians 2:4–5 See also Nehemiah 9:31; Psalm 123:2; Isaiah 55:7; Daniel 9:18; Hosea 11:8; Micah 7:18; Luke 1:78; Romans 9:18, Romans 11:32, Romans 12:1; 1 Peter 1:3, 1 Peter 2:10
But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our trespasses. It is by grace you have been saved!
The constancy of the mind of God
Numbers 23:19 See also 1 Samuel 15:29; Psalm 110:4; Ezekiel 24:14
God is not a man, that He should lie, or a son of man, that He should change His mind. Does He speak and not act? Does He promise and not fulfill?
God changes his mind
Drawing back from threatened actions
Jeremiah 26:13 The idea of God “relenting” does not mean a capricious change of mind, but the considered decision on God's part not to proceed with a threatened course of action in response to repentance on the part of individuals or the people. See also Exodus 32:12–14; Jeremiah 18:5–10, Jeremiah 26:3, Jeremiah 26:19; Joel 2:13–14; Amos 7:3, Amos 7:6; Jonah 3:9–10, Jonah 4:2
So now, correct your ways and deeds, and obey the voice of the LORD your God, so that He might relent of the disaster He has pronounced against you.
Grieving over past actions
1 Samuel 15:11 See also Genesis 6:6–7; 1 Samuel 15:35
“I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned away from following Me and has not carried out My instructions.” And Samuel was distressed and cried out to the LORD all that night.
The mind of God is, ultimately, beyond human understanding
Because of God's greatness
Isaiah 55:8–9 See also Isaiah 40:13–14, Isaiah 40:28, Isaiah 44:6–7; Romans 11:33–36; 1 Corinthians 2:16
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so My ways are higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.
Because of human lowliness
Ecclesiastes 5:1–2 See also Ecclesiastes 7:23–25
Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Draw near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong. Do not be quick to speak, and do not be hasty in your heart to utter a word before God. For God is in heaven and you are on earth. So let your words be few.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.