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Concerning your reply, I have already agreed that man has the innate knowledge of good and evil.

Yes, we agree on this.

The scriptures you quote do not justify passing judgment on God; rather, they show that man can petition God and how to do so. Moses and Abraham both appeal to God that His mercy should override His judgment.

You may be right, but I read more into those passages. I think that man makes his decision about accepting God based on his judgment of whether God is worthy, and (no surprise) he uses his capacity to discern good and evil to decide that accepting God is the proper thing to do -- just as we use our same power of discernment to reject Satan. But it's man's moral judgment that is involved here, not merely man's obedience to divine authority. Remember, in the very early days, man thought he had a choice of many gods. The Hebrews made a choice. They didn't merely submit; they exercised judgment in making their decision. Or so it seems to me. As I've often said, I'm only a layman, not a professional theologian. I don't pretend to have all the answers.

Thank you so much for sharing your views in such depth!

I think that man makes his decision about accepting God based on his judgment of whether God is worthy, and (no surprise) he uses his capacity to discern good and evil to decide that accepting God is the proper thing to do -- just as we use our same power of discernment to reject Satan.

To the contrary, the Word tells me that not everyone has ears to hear, but for those who do, the only choice is whether to reject Christ:

And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. – John 6:65

Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. – Romans 8:30

But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: - John 10:26-27

Remember, in the very early days, man thought he had a choice of many gods. The Hebrews made a choice. They didn't merely submit; they exercised judgment in making their decision. Or so it seems to me.

I think your early men may have had some wisdom that we have lost. Even if we accept the Bible as the ultimate moral authority, it does not dictate every moral decision we have to make during the day. It is pretty easy to decide not to kick the cat when we are angry, but more difficult to arbitrate between waring children. More difficult to decide on risky forms of medical treatment for children.

The term "moral compass" was corrupted during the clinton administration, but it's a valid term. We define ourselves by these little choices as well as the big ones.

[Man] uses his capacity to discern good and evil to decide that accepting God is the proper thing to do

Well stated. Very similar to the point I made to exmarine about 150 posts ago. I received no replies.

(Which is not surprising considering the quality of the replies from the previous appearance of that list from about 1000 posts ago.)