A seminary friend emailed a few of us, and at one point in my life I would have tried to tackle these questions head-on, but with the seasons, my thoughts have changed. Here’s what she asked:
How do God’s predestination and foreknowledge fit together?
Is God’s predestination based on his foreknowledge? Or is his foreknowledge based on his predestination?
But, I don’t see why, practically, these questions are good/important. They seem academic, and I don’t see how the answers affect my daily walk, or how they affect my ministry to others.
I suppose if you’re purpose in trying to wrap your finite mind around infinite, intangible, anagogical, abstract principles is to know and love God more, it’s worth the headache. I think there is a danger in it though, simply searching for some end or some solution as if you are going to solve the problem of God, as if God is first, a problem; and second, comprehendible to the human condition. God hides in inapproachable light.
Can that which is lesser really understand that which is greater? Suppose I claimed to be a Picasso scholar and held a forum on his paintings. Picasso is a painter; I am only a Picasso scholar. Wouldn’t people laugh at me if I tried to tell them why Picasso chose to paint this or that? How he chose his colors? Why he made this brush strokes and not that one? Why he used the size of brush he did? Etc. Of course they would. I am not a painter. I wouldn’t pretend to understand the genius that is Picasso, and Picasso is human. I don’t think I could understand his human mind, so why would I pretend to think that I could have the mind of God laid out in a nice neat floor plan as if he is some computer who must work in some certain observable and classifiable and programmable manner.
Any way, I guess I got off the topic and that’s probably a bad analogy, but I think you get my sentiments towards these issues. I think it’s healthy to interact with scripture and try to get a grand picture of the narrative, yet the fullest revelation is in Christ. I don’t think Christ talked much on these issues… if he did God didn’t think it important enough to record it in his word. P.S. Yes, I am showing my cards.