In 2 Timothy 2:25 the apostle Paul wrote of God granting people repentance.

2Ti 2:25  in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant [didomi] them repentance, so that they may know the truth,

The Greek word translated “grant” is didomi, which means give or grant.  In the book of Acts, it states something similar regarding Israel and the Gentiles. 

Act 5:31  Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give [didomi] repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.

Act 11:18  When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, “Then God has also granted [didomi] to the Gentiles repentance to life.”

But God commands all men to repent.

Act 17:30  Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent,

Why does God command repentance when it is something that He must grant?  In answering this question, it’s important to note that God wants all people to repent and be saved.

2Pe 3:9  The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

1Ti 2:4  who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Since God wants everyone to repent, He will grant them repentance at some stage, but not necessarily now.  There are two things required to be granted repentance.  Firstly, a person must first hear the Gospel and then secondly, he must understand it.  Those who do not have access to the Bible cannot repent, and so God has not granted them repentance.  But even if someone hears the Gospel he may not understand it.  God hides the meaning from some people, thus not granting them repentance.  This is the reason Jesus spoke in parables–to hide the meaning.

Mat 13:10  And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?”
Mat 13:11  He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.
Mat 13:12  For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.
Mat 13:13  Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.
Mat 13:14  And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says: ‘HEARING YOU WILL HEAR AND SHALL NOT UNDERSTAND, AND SEEING YOU WILL SEE AND NOT PERCEIVE;
Mat 13:15  FOR THE HEARTS OF THIS PEOPLE HAVE GROWN DULL. THEIR EARS ARE HARD OF HEARING, AND THEIR EYES THEY HAVE CLOSED, LEST THEY SHOULD SEE WITH THEIR EYES AND HEAR WITH THEIR EARS, LEST THEY SHOULD UNDERSTAND WITH THEIR HEARTS AND TURN, SO THAT I SHOULD HEAL THEM.’

The reality is that God grants repentance only to a few people now.

Mat 22:14  “For many are called, but few are chosen.”

Joh 6:44  No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.

But when Jesus Christ returns, repentance will be granted to everyone.  Everyone will know about the true God.

Isa 11:9  They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD As the waters cover the sea.

God will give everyone understanding.

Eze 36:26  I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
Eze 36:27  I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.

The billions of people who have died without being granted repentance will be resurrected at the end of the 1000 year reign of Christ, and then finally they will be granted repentance.

Rev 20:5  But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. …

Eventually all men will hear the Gospel and understand it, thus being granted repentance.  So God will grant repentance to all men, and God commands all men everywhere to repent.