Of the many called, why are so few chosen? ... Because God honors our free will, and so few will let Him do 'it' (save them from their inherited self).
Paul was not allowed to follow his 'free will'. As Paul says some were chosen/elected before the 'foundation of this world'. Some were/are predestined to do specific things because they have already demonstrated their love and loyalty. I also think that given the promise in Isaiah 3:4 And I will give children to be their princes, and babes shall rule over them." means that some 'spoiled brats' were sent at appointed times because the masses turned their backs collectively on the Creator.
“Of the many called, why are so few chosen? ... Because God honors our free will, and so few will let Him do ‘it’ (save them from their inherited self).”
I believe that G-d does know everything. It’s His Divine Plan, after all.
My personal struggles with faith are not for His edification. They’re for MINE. He knows that my soul needed to go through the ups and downs to ‘get it.’
When my son was a baby, I knew that eventually he’d learn how to read. My knowledge that he’d learn this didn’t remove his free will. It just meant that I saw it coming.
I knew what he was capable of. I knew how to teach. I knew what materials to expose him to in order to set him up for success. I knew his psyche well enough to understand the best way to challenge him.
But, in the end, he still had the free will to refuse to learn the skill.
Hashem is our divine parent. He knew us before we were born. He knows how to guide us to get the result that He wants. And He is all-knowing enough to foresee all outcomes for all of time.