Posted on 11/22/2004 11:12:20 AM PST by stuartcr
I read the Book of Job this weekend, and I have a question regarding the reasoning behind Job's trials. I believe that God is all-powerful and all-knowing, which includes knowing what we are going to do. Going on this premise, my question is why did God, knowing the outcome, subject Job to all that he went through? Why did He allow satan to do the things he did to Job? The only thing I can think of, was to prove a point to Job?
I think you nailed it. Even with Free Will, God knows our hearts.
That's what I figured, but if the outcome is known, how is this really free-will? Wouldn't it be just something we think we have?
Well, I guess one way of looking at it would be that when we do something, we choose to do it - just because God KNOWS we are going to do it, doesn't mean He made us do it...
God only knew that Job was a good man,
thereby He knew the outcome.
If God knows we are going to do something, and God is never wrong, how can we not do it that way?
Because, unlike God, WE are not perfect. We are fallible.
One of the underlying messages of the Book of Job is that Satan and God are still speaking to one another. The fight goes on however.........
So God didn't know the details? If true, that helps in my understanding of free-will, thanks.
We must all remember that the characters and stories in most of the Bible are there for our benefit. They are models for us as followers of Christ. In any story throughout the Bible, there is some life application to us here and now. And there were many shadows, types and figures in the Old Testament which foretold the New Testament. It is a schoolmaster to lead us to Christ.
I don't quite understand your reply.
I don't think He did know the details.
I am trying to remember from age 16,
when I was the Honored Qeen of Job's
Daughters, Bethel #213. It's been a while. :)
This puts me on a tangent.....If God is the most-powerful, then satan cannot be equally powerful. Why does satan exist?
Well, while God may never be wrong, we sure can be :)
The teaching that always comes to my mind:
Job was steadfast. God knew that.
Part of a heavenly Make-Work Program, so that unemployment numbers drop, and God's re-election campaign looks better? ;0)
(j/k)
???
Don't we just do as God knows we will? How can there be any right or wrong in this?
Sorry, Honored QUEEN.
It's an organization for girls
who are closely related to a 32nd
Degree Mason.
The best explanation I ever heard for "free will" is that God gives it to us but knows what we will do with it. I can't explain exactly how that works, but I believe it.
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