However, if it can NEVER be "get a ride," then we MUST say that everything is predestined and will not change ONCE the creation was begun.
God always knew that it would never be "get a ride."
That is why it does not matter if it is simply, "God decided." Because He did. He could have NOT made this world.
In that sense, He decided everything that would ever be...by fixing it in that things known to Him WOULD come to pass.
We are left to trust Him and His choices.
Or we can believe that God simply directs everything that He has scripted.
We are left to trust Him and His choices.
You raise some interesting points in your post.
I'm going to still disagree with the precise use of predetermined still.
But it's the following parts that have started me thinking.
Isn't what you're describing the deist viewpoint?