A Rock in a Shifting World: Why God Never Changes His Mind
Pastor Rasol Manouchehri Ardakani - 7 December 2025
“God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfil?”
Congratulations! You have made it to the end of the first week of Advent.
Seven days in, and the excitement of December 1st might have settled down a bit. Perhaps the chocolate in the calendar is becoming a routine, or the to-do list for Christmas is starting to look a bit overwhelming. In the midst of all the changing plans and busy schedules, today’s verse offers us something solid to stand on.
We live in a world that is constantly shifting. People change their minds all the time. Politicians make pledges they can't keep. Friends cancel plans at the last minute because something else came up. Even with the best intentions, we humans are flaky. We promise to start a diet, or call a relative, or finish a project, and then life gets in the way.
Because we are so used to being let down, we often project that onto God. We secretly worry that He might change His mind about us. We worry that if we mess up too many times, He might withdraw His love. Or we worry that He has forgotten the prayers we prayed five years ago.
But Numbers 23:19 gives us a firm "No."
It tells us that God is not like us. He doesn't lie. He doesn't change His mind. If He says He will do something, it is as good as done.
This is the bedrock of the Advent story. The journey to the manger wasn't a last-minute decision. It was the fulfilment of a plan that God had stuck to for thousands of years. Despite all the times humanity turned away, and despite all the chaos of history, God remained faithful to His promise. He said He would send a Saviour, and He did.
This means that God is a "finisher." As Paul wrote in the New Testament, "He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion." God doesn't leave loose ends. He doesn't start writing a story and then get bored halfway through.
If you are looking at your own life today and seeing a lot of unfinished business—unanswered prayers, unresolved conflicts, or dreams that haven't happened yet—let this verse encourage you. God hasn't forgotten. He hasn't changed His mind about the plans He has for you.
We can rest in the fact that our relationship with God depends on His faithfulness, not ours. Even when we are faithless, He remains faithful, because He cannot disown Himself.
So today, take a moment to stop striving. You don't need to earn His favour or remind Him of His promises. He knows. He remembers. And just as surely as the sun rose this morning, He will do exactly what He said He would do.
Prayer of the Day:
Heavenly Father, we praise You for Your faithfulness. Thank You that You are not like us; You do not lie and You do not change Your mind. In a world that feels shaky and uncertain, we are so grateful that You are our Rock. Help us to trust that You will complete the good work You have started in us. We rest in Your promises today. Amen.