Lobo & Darius

James 1:13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:

2 Timothy 2:13 If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

There is much more to God than POWER. There is a wonderful person. It is not rules that it is about, but a wonderful PERSON.

Shalom

[ May 21, 2003, 09:59 PM: Message edited by: John Boskovic ]

Knowing the "what if's" based on understanding doesn't require divine foreknowledge. Anybody possessed of at least ordinary insight could sit down and make a similar list. That includes the Devil. In what way then does God differ from the rest? In what way does His foreknowledge give us peace of mind? If He's winging it as things unfold then how can I trust His prophetic insights? especially Nahum 1:9?

Mike your comments seem to miss the information in my post of May 19, 2003 05:02 PM. Could you please tell me what that post means to you.

Shalom

God's knowledge became significant in my life when I was six years old. I was taught from birth that God sees and knows everything, but it was not until I was six years of age that I witnessed the benefit of God's knowledge in such a way that I received a key lesson in my life.

The occasion was simple. My Aunt being of marriageable age was center of attention of a number of young men in the church, and hence a fair amount of conversation occurred in our home (a 9'x12' room). There was a lot of discussion of who was the right one, as well as whom she liked/loved. As it happened she liked/loved one fellow that my mother declared no good. Then one time a fellow came from the country that my mother said was good, but she did not like him. Well, that sounded interesting to me and I began to pay attention to what was going on. Here we were, mother said 'no good' but she loved him, and then mother said 'good' and she did not like him. I wondered how is one supposed to know?

The answer came several weeks later in a simple manner but very profound for me. On Sabbath he had asked her to meet him the following day at 5pm at a little Park near us. (Secretly he prayed and asked God for a sign; if she was for him that she would come, and if not, that she does not). It was Sunday and at our home there was a lot of arguing. My Aunt was vehement that she will not go, while my mom was trying to convince her not to be so. Then my Aunt declared she was settled she was not going. Late afternoon supper was being prepared when they realized they were missing a necessary ingredient to ready supper. (We had no fridge; stores were closed.) There was nothing to it but to go and borrow some from a sister in the church that lived near us. (This happened to be right beside the Park.)

My Aunt went to get the ingredient, and as she was leaving she made sure my mom knew she was not going to the Park. As she arrived at the sister's home she heard a lot of yelling and a boot flying and smashing into the door which she was approaching. (The husband of the sister was an unbeliever and drunkard and chose this moment to have a brawl.) Well, my Aunt did not feel like knocking on the door just then and thought she would wait a while for things to cool down inside. While she was waiting she found herself standing facing the Park. It was now about an hour past the time she was supposed to have met him, and she became curious if he was still there. She found him sitting on a bench witnessing to someone. It was then that my Aunt had an inner realization that she had been fighting the Lord. I do not remember what happened with supper that night.

Observations,
1. God's fatherly interference in my Aunts affairs.
2. Don't expect your feelings, emotions and desires to be in agreement with God's will. These must be taught to appreciate his way.
3. God's arrangement of circumstances to bring my Aunt to realization of issues.

The lessons I learned from that were to set the future course for me as I resolved and made a solemn promise that when I come to that time in my life I will ask the Lord to choose for me. I realized that feelings, emotions, likes, and dislikes are not to be listened to. (She liked/loved the other fellow, but he was not the one. She did not like this fellow, yet he was the one.) On the other hand I questioned one's ability to know. (While my mom seemed right, what were her conclusions based on? She had taught me we couldn't know the heart of another or one's own heart (which is deceitful), but God knows the heart.) Hence my resolution to seek from the Lord. I did find it wonderful that we can avail ourselves of God's knowledge and wisdom, and need not go about guessing. God has a plan and purpose for each one of us, if we will let him lead us.

While perhaps this experience may appear to have little to do with God's foreknowledge, it is a preamble to my experience, which is to follow, which reveals the significance much more.

Shalom

John, thanx for that delightful story. God is good. But not all stories have such a sweet ending. In my case there was no doubt in my mind it was God's will that I marry my wife. Many were the signs. But it ended in divorce after several years of hard times. However, I still do not doubt it was God's will. I learned many valuable lessons through it all. I am a better person now. God is good.

It was God who chose King Saul. It was God who created Lucifer. It was God who created Adam and Eve. It was Jesus who permitted Judas to manage the money bag. And the list goes on. Obviously then God's will is very complex. But by faith we may learn and grow in grace.

I look forward to the continuation of your story. Thank you for sharing.