God doesn't repent, or does he? Num. 23:19

How can Num. 23:19, which says God doesn't repent, be reconciled with Ex. 32:14, which clearly says he does?

Biblical Errancy Pamphlets by Dennis McKinsey Pamphlet 1 Q4.

The verses McKinsey mentions are:

(Num 23:19 NIV) God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? Note: the word repent is used in the KJV and it means a change of mind.

Exo 32:14 Then the LORD relented and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened.

This is a typical McKinsey technique and beloved of all skeptics, read the scripture cold, don't be swayed as to what is being said or what commentators allege is intended. We should not interpret scripture with scripture, so we are told by McKinsey. (EBE, p 500).

In Num 23:19 these words are spoken by Baalam but are attributed to God in Num 23:16. God is comparing himself with the vacillation of men, and the meaning is clarified in the second half of the verse: if God speaks then he will act, if God makes a promise then he will fulfil it. Clearly, God is contrasting his nature with the nature of man. We make promises but then do not fulfil them. We say we will do something but then do not do it.

Now in scripture there are many places when God changes his mind: Genesis 6:6,7; Jonah 3:10; 2 Kings 20:1-7; Numbers 16:20-35; Numbers 16:44-50; Genesis 18:23-33. However it is usually because the disaster God threatens is conditional, if the people respond by repenting from sin, or they humble themselves before God, then he does not bring on them the disaster he had planned. The following two quotes show that God's judgements are conditional upon our response.

(Jer 18:7-10 NIV) If at any time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down and destroyed, {8} and if that nation I warned repents of its evil, then I will relent and not inflict on it the disaster I had planned. {9} And if at another time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be built up and planted, {10} and if it does evil in my sight and does not obey me, then I will reconsider the good I had intended to do for it.

(2 Chr 7:13-14 NIV) "When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, {14} if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

Examples where God changes his mind in response to people are:

(1 Ki 21:29 NIV) "Have you noticed how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself, I will not bring this disaster in his day, but I will bring it on his house in the days of his son."

(2 Ki 22:19-20 NIV) Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before the LORD when you heard what I have spoken against this place and its people, that they would become accursed and laid waste, and because you tore your robes and wept in my presence, I have heard you, declares the LORD. {20} Therefore I will gather you to your fathers, and you will be buried in peace. Your eyes will not see all the disaster I am going to bring on this place.'" So they took her answer back to the king.

The classic case is the example of the Ninevites who believed God and repented of their wickedness, Jonah 3:5-9.

(Jonah 3:10 NIV) When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened.

In Exo 32:14 God relented because of the prayers/intercession of Moses for his people.

(Exo 32:10-14 NIV) Now leave me alone so that my anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation." {11} But Moses sought the favor of the LORD his God. "O LORD," he said, "why should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand? {12} Why should the Egyptians say, 'It was with evil intent that he brought them out, to kill them in the mountains and to wipe them off the face of the earth'? Turn from your fierce anger; relent and do not bring disaster on your people. {13} Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, to whom you swore by your own self: 'I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and I will give your descendants all this land I promised them, and it will be their inheritance forever.'" {14} Then the LORD relented and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened.

God's dealings with mankind are far more dynamic than McKinsey imagines.

Tekton's comments here, John Piper's comments.