This is one thing God never does and conflicts with scripture. It must be modified away or scripture falls.
Yes, it would seem a conflict but nevertheless the Scripture plainly declares that He does repent (apart from repentance for sin which He obviously has no need):
Genesis 6
6 And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.
7 And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.
What other way can this be taken than God was sorry He created man?
Either way, as you say, to reject what this passage in Genesis is plainly saying would cause Scripture to fall.
And many other passages.
Personally, I really don't care what any Systematic Theology says or Calvin or any other man.
Again:
To be sure I am at a loss to explain how this can be since God is Almighty and omni-everything but I don't want to explain it away or assign some euphamism to the choice of words of the Holy Spirit.
I realize that Scripture on occassion
appears to contradict itself:
Malachi 3:6 For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.
Notice it says "I change not".
So, as a place perhaps of a meeting ground: God repents (apart from repentance for sin) but in His repentance somehow His essential nature remains the same and does not change in spite of the repentance.
From Strong's:
Repent 5162
nacham {naw-kham'}
Meaning:
1) to be sorry, console oneself, repent, regret, comfort, be comforted 1a) (Niphal) 1a1) to be sorry, be moved to pity, have compassion 1a2) to be sorry, rue, suffer grief, repent 1a3) to comfort oneself, be comforted 1a4) to comfort oneself, ease oneself 1b) (Piel) to comfort, console 1c) (Pual) to be comforted, be consoled 1d) (Hithpael) 1d1) to be sorry, have compassion 1d2) to rue, repent of 1d3) to comfort oneself, be comforted 1d4) to ease oneself
I realize that reams of paper (and now electrons) have been written to change the meaning of this word when it comes to God's character.
Also some folks seem infuriated at the fact that the Scripture plainly assigns "hate" and "anger" to God and go to no small length in attempt to rewrite the Scripture:
Psalm 5:5 The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity.
This simply cannot be made to say "love less" IMO.
Jeremiah 7:20 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, mine anger and my fury shall be poured out upon this place, upon man, and upon beast, and upon the trees of the field, and upon the fruit of the ground; and it shall burn, and shall not be quenched.
Does
thus saith the Lord GOD have no meaning anymore? He Himself speaks of His anger and fury with no mincing of words here and elsewhere.
However, since it seems so common a theme (God having this ability as well as a capacity of emotion) in the Scripture, I'm fully inclined to accept it without question.
HankD