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I don't understand the point about Thomas and how it fits with the faith of Abraham.

I mentioned Thomas as a contrast to Abraham. Certainly there were prophesies concerning Christ that are associated with Abraham and therefore, in my thinking, arguably predestined. As for Thomas' 'doubting', I don't think (unless there is a related prophesy I can't think of) one could argue with much certainty that that particular incident was predestined/foreordained. If an incident directly involving Jesus and Thomas may not have been predestined, it is certainly reasonable to conclude that there are events involving most men that are not a result of predestination.

Abraham is a good example of how I understand predestination and foreknowledge. God, in His omniscient, knew that Abraham would be the only one who would “believe” God in a promise so fantastic that it would stagger the imagination. Thus, Abraham, was predestined to be the one because God knew this to be the case before the foundations of the world.

In the case of Thomas I’ve always felt he got a bum rap with all that “doubting Thomas” stuff. I do not believe for a moment that Christ appeared to the eleven disciples the week before and said, “Oops, where’s Thomas?” I believe that our Lord Jesus foreknew Thomas would not be there but He came back the following week not only for Thomas’ sake but for the sake of the other eleven.

Like with the selection of Abraham, John the Baptist, and the apostles God foreknew their makeup, attitudes, and characters. These He predestined before the foundations of the world because He knew they would follow Him before we ourselves knew it.

He didn’t pick certain people out because they were any better than the others. He knew His sheep just like He knew you would follow Him. DON’T think for one moment that God is not interested in you to the SAME extent as He was with Abraham, Moses, John the Baptist, Paul or anyone else in the scriptures or the great men (and women) of God throughout the ages. God shows NO partiality. God foreknew you would follow Him and you were predestined from the foundations of the world.

A verse that I have recently come across that has a great truth in it for me is:

Isa 43:7 Everyone who is called by My name, And whom I have created for My glory, Whom I have formed, even whom I have made."

You were created for God’s glory and that is a wonderful thought.