The Joy of God's Heart

Can we say that when a person turns from his ways and lives, because of God's mercy and grace to him, does this truly bring joy to the heart of God? Can God really be impassible and still have Divine Feelings and affections like the joy which is mentioned here?

Answer: Yes, the joy is real in the heart of God, according to the Parable that we are studying. His joy is over one sinner who has truly repented. It is true that God is not a man that He should lie, nor the son of man that He should repent. He is impassible. Nothing moves Him from outside Himself to do anything that He does not want to do. It is impossible that it should be so. All of His purposes will be fulfilled and none shall be thwarted. But the text in Numbers 23: 19 does not say that God is not a man so that He cannot really be affected by our love or our repenting over our sins. Or even have joy when sinners repent. It does not say that He is not affected by what we do. Just because He has affections does not mean that He suffers change because of them, or that He is any way moved or overcome by them to change His eternal purposes. A sinner's being found as a lost sheep and being brought home by Christ into His fold, this brings God joy.