Is it true that God never changed a punishment?

 

Some years ago I did a sermon on Adam and Eve, mentioning that some scholars suggest that God acted with mercy in their case and let them live longer, rather than killing them immediately after their sin. I said that God never changed a punishment based on a specific commandment.

That assumes that when God threatens a punishment, repentance is often, if not explicity stated, then implied, such as in the preaching of Jonah to the people of Ninevah. He preached that God would destroy the city. They repented and God relented. The condition of repentance, however, was implicit in his preaching, and the prophet halfway expected it to happen, it would seem.

Having said that, is the statement above true, that God never changed, or relented on, a punishment based on a specific commandment? Somebody may quote Cain, but does that apply?

Upvote Upvoted 0
1 response
God did postpone (if that term is appropriate) the punishment of Judah because of Hezekiah's repentance and removal of idols in that country when he became king. Isaiah had prophesied the destruction of the country not only for its refusing to repent, but also because its leaders trusted in others rather than God. Ahaz, who ruled after Uzziah, decided to call on the Assyrians to defend it against Israel and Syria in the Syro-Ephraimitic War instead of trusting in God. While it may be that God stayed his hand on Hezekiah's behalf, the punishment he promised Judah was indeed fulfilled when the population was deported by the Babylonians. Certainly the Assyrians were happy with the tribute Ahaz paid, and knew there was wealth to exploit in Judah even during Hezekiah's day when Sennacherib and Rabshekeh captured the cities of northern Judah.
— John Henson