God's Return and Repentance: Hope Found in Uncertainty

"Who knoweth but He will turn and repent, and leave a blessing behind Him?" The prophet's hope rests upon three certainties about Adonai's character. First, the Lord would return—not in spatial movement, for He fills heaven and earth, but in manifestation of favor. When Yahweh withdraws His wonted assistance due to a people's pride, self-confidence, and carnality, He departs; when His anger is appeased, He shows Himself favourable again. Second, He would repent—not changing His nature or eternal purposes, but His conduct toward us. Though Elohim cannot repent as mortals do, He may revoke His threatenings and recall His judgments, ceasing what He had begun. Third, He would leave a blessing behind, for Adonai never comes to His people empty-handed. Yet observe the grammar: "Who knoweth but...?" This hope rises no higher than peradventure—possibility mixed with fear, joy tempered with trembling. This modest expectation checks presumption and quickens holy carefulness in repentance. A poor, perishing sinner needs only probable acceptance from the hand of Yahweh to seek, trust, and wait for Him. Such hope affords encouragement in prayer, in genuine repentance, in patient waiting upon Elohim during trial, and in exertions for others' good. Yet none should persist in evil, presuming upon eventual mercy. While we trust in Adonai, we must keep His way.