God never differs from himself. He never changes. He may alter his dealings with men in a dispensational sense, but his divine character remains constant. Immutability is a vital attribute of God, without which he could not be God. For example, a person may only change in two directions. He may go from better to worse, or from worse to better. But it is unthinkable that God could travel down either of these roads. To go from worse to better implies past imperfection. To go from better to worse implies present imperfection.
God’s immutability assures us of many facts.
Dr. Henry Morris makes two points regarding James 1:17: . . . This attribute of the Father of lights—that is, no variableness—is suggested by the most basic and universal law of science, the law of conservation of energy. God can “form the light” into many different kinds of energy, but the total quantity is conserved, neither being augmented by creation nor decreased by annihilation (Eccl 3:14).
. . . The word “turning” is from the Greek trope. When combined with the Greek for “in” (that is, en), it becomes entrope, which means in the Greek “confusion” or “shame.” We get our English word entropy from this source, which thus literally means “in-turning.” In science, any system which turns in on itself, without drawing on external sources of energy or information (in other words, a closed system), will experience an increase of entropy, or disorganization. . . . But God Himself, who imposed these laws on His creation, is not bound by them. There is not even a “shadow of turning” with Him. (The Defender’s Study Bible, Grand Rapids, MI: World Publishing, p. 1385)
This is of course not the case with ever-changing human beings who change all too often for the worse!
Change
A man and his wife were walking down the street when the husband spotted an old college friend coming toward them. With great enthusiasm he embraced him and said to his wife, “Doris, meet Bob Brown, my old college roommate 30 years ago! But my, my, Bob,” he continued, “how much you’ve changed! Why, Doris, when we were in school, Bob here was slim, dressed in the latest fashion, and sported a full head of hair. But now, look at him. Bob, since then your weight, clothes, and hairline have all radically changed.” At that moment, the other man, visibly annoyed, exclaimed—“Sir, I want you to know my name is not Bob Brown, but John Smith!” The husband then replied, “How about that, Doris, he’s even changed his name!”
However, immutability should never be confused with immobility! The first is stable and sure, while the second is static and sterile.
A. H. Strong describes the vitality within God’s immutable nature: Immutability is not stereotyped sameness, but impossibility of deviation by one hair’s breadth from the course which is best. A man of great force of character is continually finding new occasions for the manifestation and application of moral principle. In God infinite consistency is united with infinite flexibility. There is no iron-bound impassibility, but rather an infinite originality in him. (Systematic Theology, p. 25) Furthermore, immutability refers to God’s person, but not his program! In his dealings with mankind, God’s program has often changed.