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There are times where there is a hava amina (automatic assumption) that Hashem changed His mind, and the standard commentary is "obviously, Hashem didn't really change His mind, it is to teach us that [insert lesson for us mortals here]".

I do note, that we have heavy-weight opinions (even if not widely read or accepted in the classrooms nowadays) that explain that when it comes to our free will, Hashem, so to speak, doesn't know what we will choose without looking to see us make the choice (even if He can do this in an atemporal manner). Some of these opinions are collected here in this excellent answer by Alex.

My question is simple- do any of these or similarly-founded opinions explain that Hashem really did "change His mind", because our free will was at play?

E.g. maybe Hashem really was planning to make the world out of justice, but when He saw our free will choices, He saw that it wouldn't work, and changed to a world of mercy. Maybe Hashem really did intend Adam to be alone, but then saw Adam's free will as a barrier to that, and gave Him a companion.

Here's a possible example. Rav Hoffman says pretty clearly that Hashem made Adam, and then realised that Adam wasn't going to do it the way Hashem hoped, so to speak, so Hashem had a "backup option".

Rabbi Kaii
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  • How can you say "but then He saw"? Hashem has perfect knowledge irrespective of time, so He can't make mistakes and then correct them! – Moses Supposes Mar 21 '24 at 12:07
  • @MosesSupposes I am using temporal language to describe an atemporal situation, but I am being true to the sources I quoted and questioned – Rabbi Kaii Mar 21 '24 at 12:19
  • I don't understand what that even means - how can we accept the idea that Hashem doesn't have perfect knowledge at any point in time? I'm not sure whether even saying "Hashem made a decision" is problematic – Moses Supposes Mar 21 '24 at 20:05
  • @MosesSupposes You accept it because that's the impression scripture repeatedly gives – Aaron Mar 21 '24 at 20:27
  • I don't know if I should make a full out answer, but I have yet to be convinced that God sees all time, and that God doesn't make mistakes or regret His decisions. When I read commentaries defending the omniscience of God, or God knowing all things, they usually have this opinion because they have other similar opinions that require them believing that God is omnipotent or omniscient. But if you aren't trying to protect some other belief, I find a hard time finding scriptural evidence that God knows our actions before we act, or that God knows all, etc etc – Aaron Mar 21 '24 at 20:31
  • @Aaron I don't agree that scripture gives that impression at all. If Hashem's actions change that is generally either because of a test (like the Akedah), because we've done Teshuvah and no longer deserve a punishment or something else. Not believing that Hashem is omniscient is very problematic from a logical perspective in terms of believing in Him at all. – Moses Supposes Mar 22 '24 at 09:16
  • @MosesSupposes God changes his mind about eating meat after the flood, no general teshuvah there, God regrets making Saul king, and the list can go on and on. Generally I believe that like how every action has results and consequences, it's the same for ideas. When you believe God is omniscient, then it helps clarify or make sense of other questions or beliefs. But it doesn't answer why God seems to need to investigate things to find out in scripture, like sending the Angels to Sodom and Amorah. As if God couldn't tell they were deserving of smiting without sending angels? – Aaron Mar 22 '24 at 15:57
  • @MosesSupposes If you don't believe in an omniscient God then none of those scriptures of God needing to find things out seems out of place. But then you might have other theological issues/ideas that you will need to rethink now that you no longer have an omniscient God. – Aaron Mar 22 '24 at 15:58

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