The attribute of omniscience, of knowing all things, must be clarified. Christian belief holds that God is timeless. Past, present and future for God can be seen as a whole. God also knows how things would turn out if a different path had been taken at every potential choice-making nexus. Furthermore, a 'prophet' in the Bible meant more than simply 'a predictor of the future'. A prophet was also a messenger and an exhorter. His words were never set in stone. A key verse for this is Jeremiah 18:7-10. With this verse, and the fact that the role of a prophet was more than just as a predictor, it is quite clear why it is pointless to object when God withholds judgment. Following ancient rules of rhetoric and the constraints of oral communication, as well as the nature of the Semitic mindset which typically expressed itself in extremes, it would be less appropriate for a prophet making a popular declaration to delineate possible exceptions in his general proclamation. Such side-tracking would make his message less memorable and effective in an era when retention and effect was far more important in the short term than detailed analysis. Finally, to say that God does not 'change' does not mean that God is static, never does anything, or never says anything. Nor can it be asserted to mean that God does not alter stated plans in reaction to human freewill choices. The references to God not 'changing' cannot hold up such a narrow interpretation.

Genesis 18:23-33 is the incident in which Abraham intercedes with God on behalf of Sodom, asking Him to spare the city in a classic ANE 'marketplace bartering' conversation which probably served to give Abraham some idea what this new God of 'his' was like. The story, and Jeremiah 18, indicates that with intercession and/or change, God will make a change in an announced plan. But if God is omniscient, then He knew in advance what Abraham would ask for — and knew also what the end result would be. God dealt with Abraham in human terms for his own sake; but even before the conversation started, the matter was decided. God did not change nor compromise, but in fact, in an act of divine condescension, dropped a very strong hint that intercession on Abraham's part was desired. This incident was more than a typical ANE barter-exchange, then: It was also a tone-setting meeting laying down the terms upon which God would relate to His covenant people. He knew what they would do; but He also wanted them to come to Him in their need.