[Cronos]

No one doubts that He knew what would happen, but He allows things to develop and uses unorthodox means to accomplish His plan (such as dying on the Cross, suffering in flesh, etc.). Looking at how this unfolds, He is not a Micromanager as you Protestants think of Him.

Good point Kosta. By potraying that God micromanages and sets aside the "elect" almost seems like saying -- since God already chose the ones to be saved and to be damned, why did He send His only Son. That's a wrong thought

[kosta50]

By potraying that God micromanages and sets aside the "elect" almost seems like saying -- since God already chose the ones to be saved and to be damned, why did He send His only-[begotten] Son

Exactly! The Protestant God designed and made the Creation, created man in a pristine world, then "planted" a serpent to tempt him -- knowing exactly that man will fail because God desired it so! This brings terrible demise of mankind, and then God decids to kill Himself on the Cross so as to redeem us when all this is not our doing but His!

Could it be that God decides also what He wnats to know and what He doesn't want to know? Can He will not to know? I don't know! But what I do know is that if He predetined everything, the whole idea of sending His only begotten Son to suffer and die for the redeption of sin that He caused, planned, authored and executed, is somewhat dubious as you hint.

[HarleyD]

Good point Kosta. By potraying that God micromanages and sets aside the "elect" almost seems like saying...

On the contrary, God is the ultimate micromanager. Scripture teaches us that ALL things work together for our good. So what precisely are you willing to leave out of that scripture verse? If you go to the dresser to wear your favorite socks and discover they're in the dirty clothes hamper isn't God working that for your good? If you run to catch a bus, miss it and are late for work isn't God working that for your good? If you have an important business presentation and discovered afterwards that you had a piece of spinach on your front tooth, isn't God working that for your good?

You can't separate a tiny event from a major event as most Christian try to do simply because you don't know how eating a salad relates to nabbing (or not) an important business deal. That is why we are to give thanks in ALL THINGS.

One more thing about this. The Jewish thought process was to always looked at God controlling the good and the bad, micromanaging our lives. Consider this exchange between Eli and Samuel:

1 Sam 3:11-18 The LORD said to Samuel, "Behold, I am about to do a thing in Israel at which both ears of everyone who hears it will tingle. "In that day I will carry out against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end. For I have told him that I am about to judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knew, because his sons brought a curse on themselves and he did not rebuke them. Therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever." So Samuel lay down until morning. Then he opened the doors of the house of the LORD. But Samuel was afraid to tell the vision to Eli. Then Eli called Samuel and said, "Samuel, my son." And he said, "Here I am." He said, "What is the word that He spoke to you? Please do not hide it from me. May God do so to you, and more also, if you hide anything from me of all the words that He spoke to you." So Samuel told him everything and hid nothing from him. And he said, "It is the LORD; let Him do what seems good to Him."

Samuel had just informed Eli that God was going to wipe his household off the map and there was absolutely no hope for redemption. What was Eli's response? "Let Him do what seems good to Him." This is similar to many other examples in scripture including Job. God controls our lives no matter. To think otherwise is Greek thought. But how many Christians today would response the way Eli responded?