The Foreknowledge of God

Loraine Boettner:

The Arminian objection against foreordination bears with equal force against the foreknowledge of God. What God foreknows must, in the very nature of the case, be as fixed and certain as what is foreordained; and if one is inconsistent with the free agency of man, the other is also. Foreordination renders the events certain, while foreknowledge presupposes that they are certain. Now if future events are foreknown to God, they cannot by any possibility take a turn contrary to His knowledge. If the course of future events is foreknown, history will follow that course as definitely as a locomotive follows the rails from New York to Chicago. The Arminian doctrine, in rejecting foreordination, rejects the theistic basis for foreknowledge.

Common sense tells us that no event can be foreknown unless by some means, either physical or mental, it has been predetermined. Our choice as to what determines the certainty of future events narrows down to two alternatives—the foreordination of the wise and merciful heavenly Father, or the working of blind, physical fate. (The Reformed Doctrine of Predestination)

The Tomb of Ben Hassan

Genesis 46:26-27 (Israelites move to Egypt):

At the Tomb of Ben Hassan there is large picture showing a mass migration into Egypt inside. The people in the picture have beards and are wearing brightly colored and patterned clothing. This was the typical traditional style at the time for Israelites, but not of Egyptians. But more importantly, a hieroglyphic says the people are “Ammo” which translated means “God‘s People”. (God is singular) The tomb is dated to the 18-17th century B.C. which is the same period of time that the Israelites migrated to Egypt per the Bible‘s account.

A Right View of God

“Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” (Matthew 5:8)

A right view of the glory of God blots out all that is of a nature different from delight. This light of the glory of God is such as will wholly exclude darkness. Jonathan Edwards writes:

There is nothing in God which gives uneasiness to him who beholds him. The view of one attribute adds to the joy that is raised by another. A sight of the holiness of God, gives unspeakable pleasure to the mind. The idea of it is a perception beyond measure the most delightful that can exist in a created mind. And then the beholding of God’s grace adds to this joy, for the soul then considers that the Being who is so amiable in himself, is so communicative, so disposed to love and benevolence. The view of the majesty of God greatly heightens this joy: to behold such grace and goodness, and such goodness and majesty, untied together. Especially will the sight of God’s love to himself, the person beholding, increase the pleasure, when he considers that so great and glorious a being loves him, and is his God and friend. Again, the beholding of God’s infinite power will still add to the pleasure, for he reflects that he, who is his friend, and loves him with so great a love, can do all things for him. So the beholding of his wisdom, because he thereby knows what is best for him, and knows how so to order things, as shall make him most blessed. So the consideration of his eternity and immutability, it will rejoice him to think that his friend and his portion is an eternal and unchangeable friend and portion. The beholding of God’s happiness will increase the joy, to consider that he is so happy, who is so much the object of his love. That love of God, in those who shall see God, will cause them exceedingly to rejoice in the happiness of God. Even the sight of God’s … justice will add to their joy. This justice of God will appear glorious to them, and will make them prize his love. (“The Pure in Heart Blessed”)