Then the word of the LORD came to Samuel: “I regret that I have made Saul king, because he has turned away from me and has not carried out my instructions.” Samuel was angry, and he cried out to the LORD all that night.
1 Samuel 15:10-11 NIV
Does God make mistakes? Based on this passage, it might be tempting to think that he does. God had explicitly selected Saul to be the first king of Israel (1 Sam. 9:15-16). Yet, when Saul failed to obey God concerning the Amalekites, God told Samuel that he regretted making Saul king. So, what should we make of this?
Some argue that God is not omniscient regarding time. In other words, God does not know all the details of what will happen in the future. So, God could have thought that Saul would have made a good king. Until he proved otherwise. And then God regretted the decision he had made and changed his mind.
Yet, in 1 Samuel 15:29, Samuel told Saul that God does not change his mind. And the same Hebrew word is used in both places: God regretted (nāḥam) making Saul king, and he does not change (nāḥam) his mind. Whatever is being described in 1 Samuel 15:11, it does not appear to be God expressing that he had changed his mind concerning Saul.
In Ephesians 1:11, Paul referenced “the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will.” While Paul was referring specifically to our election in Christ, the implication is that everything God does, including making Saul king and later rejecting him, was in accordance with his plan and will.
Which brings us back to 1 Samuel 15:11. What is meant by God regretting that he had made Saul king? If this was God’s plan, and he knew what would come of it, why regret it?
The Hebrew word nāḥam can also mean to grieve. We might see that Saul’s rebellion, even though foreknown and accounted for in God’s plan, still caused God to grieve. God is not indifferent to our sin and rebellion.
But this passage also makes it clear that there is mystery concerning God. We cannot always categorize him as neatly as we might like. Things that might seem contradictory to us may simply be a case of us not being able to comprehend the incomprehensible.
Totally agree! We have Him and He has told us how we are to live, …..we don’t need kings to stand between us and Him. On an appointed day we will be ONE with Him, but not in authority.
Thank you for your sharing.
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Hi Claudia,
Ed Jarrett has replied to your comment on
Does God Make Mistakes? – 1 Samuel 15:10-11
God is omniscient, knowing all things, including past, present, and future. So he knew what Saul, and the other kings, would be, even before they were born.
GOD said He regretted making Saul king, and I am thinking according to scriptures, even from the beginning GOD was not happy that they wanted a king. I think when He was talking to Samuel GOD may have been referring back to that point. Just like when they wanted to build a temple for GOD, and GOD told them He didn’t need one, but let them do it anyway and told them how to do it so it would point forward to Jesus.
God is omniscient, knowing all things, including past, present, and future. So he knew what Saul, and the other kings, would be, even before they were born.