I've heard many say that God's foreknowledge does not equate to predestination, but it is difficult if one thinks a lot about it.
Hezekiah humbled himself and prayed to God and God changed His "mind" and extended Hezekiah's life. Did God know he was going to do that?
Does God limit His knowledge in any way? Jesus certainly took on some limits to "dwell among us" -- else how could he exemplify the greatest faith?
Is the problem that we tend to think of God's knowledge of the future in the same terms as our own knowledge? Many things appear inconsistent to those with limited knowledge.
The idea that we have no choice is inconsistent with our everyday experience, else we are all blobs of chemicals in motion.
With respect to moral matters I think of God's response to Cain when he brought an offereing that displeased God:
"If you do well, will you not be accepted?" Clearly, God Hismelf thought Cain had a choice in the way he responded to God.
Also, what "right" would God have to be displeased with Cain, if Cain could not have chosen to respond to God in a different manner?
Now, that said, I know that there are some scriptures that your friend may reference -- One of the epistle quotes one of the prophets discussing "a pot arguing with its maker." Yet, this analogy, with the vessels for common (profane) and holy use, can be stretched to far.
Pharoah was a vessel of common usage. To one extent there was no choice: He would be used to glorify God. However he decided by his heart response whether he would be used as a common or holy vessel. We have the same choice.
Your friend may also have problems with the passages describing God's choice of Jacob over Esau before they were born. But even within the realm of limits imposed, Esau still had choices and so did Jacob. Consider how Esau and his mother was looked after when Sarah sent her away.
Perhaps more important than any of the discussion about our choices is a discussion of the choices of God Himself. If I "choose" to follow Jesus: which is more important the choice that I've made or the
choices that He has made in adopting me as His child? If I am a member of the 'chosen' is that because He specifically chose me or chose that those who would believe in His Son would be specially 'chosen'? I know that He cares and knows us each individually, but does He choose us to be His children individually or 'generally'?
He said to His discples in the Gospel of John: "You did not choose me but I chose you ... "
Just some questions for thought. Utlimately on the part of your friend it comes down to faith. Can He believe in Jesus and what God chose to do on our behalf?
For those at the extremes: Completely dedicated to living for Jesus or completely opposed to Him -- choices don't seem to make much difference. On the one-hand a person feels compelled to act out love for God with repsect to his fellow man. On the other hand there are no choices leading to anything good until one has a heart change. |
