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To: Dutchboy88
. . . but we'll be back

We will?

Your contention was that God did not drive Esau to his situation, but foresaw that Esau would choose it.

I believe that is so, reading the passage Gen. 25:28-34. Do you think that The God prompted or interfered with the decisions made in that passage?

That is, you find in this passage the concept that God is not managing the events of human history, but simply knows them.

That is not at all what I said. Regarding His omnipotence, so far not much has been said. My remarks were directed toward his omniscience and foreknowledge. You have broadened the scope, attributing it to me, and in a direction I do not favor.

You might want to consider the role foreknowledge plays in the conduct of a chess move, or in the layout and writing of a fictional novel.

36 posted on 02/05/2014 9:56:18 AM PST by imardmd1 (Fiat Lux)
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To: imardmd1
"I believe that is so, reading the passage Gen. 25:28-34. Do you think that The God prompted or interfered with the decisions made in that passage?"

Absolutely. I believe that is precisely what the Scriptures teach. While this may not be explicit in this episode, continue to read the Book and you will find that is exactly what is happening. Exodus and the remarks from God hardening Pharaoh's heart before Moses speaks with him. Prov. 21:1, "The king's heart (notice that is Solomon speaking of himself) is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord; He turns it wherever He wishes."

There are probably 50 more passages which tell us that God is controlling hearts to believe and to go to destruction. These passages would obviously subsume any remark about a man being told to "choose". The outcome is "go ahead and choose, understand it is God causing that choice."

And, yes, I have considered the role of foreknowledge. It is intimately related to predestination and omnipotence. Notice, if God foreknows what is going to happen tomorrow at 4 pm, then just one thing is going to happen...the thing He knows. Can another thing happen? No. Thus, we are on the way to that thing happening. That you cannot feel yourself moved toward that is part of the genius of God, but He knows what is going to happen precisely because He is directing the outcome.

You may wish to read the Is. passage again. It speaks of this very concept rather than the one you mangled it into.

37 posted on 02/06/2014 7:59:34 AM PST by Dutchboy88
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