Greetings SW,
So well written, I appreciate the concept of Predestination and I agree with it, from Gods Perspective, since everything, even the end from the beginning is already known. Isa 46:10.
The Eternal, not being constrained by time alone gives Him the opportunity to "know" all things. The finite mind can contemplate the "Eternals" ways and should, but without divine insight we can not even scratch the surface. One might argue that the word "Eternal" is not just a concept of "Without Time", "without" defined not as "not having", but "exterior to". With that in mind, is there anything "Eternal" but The Heavenly Father" Himself? I capitalize "Eternal" because essentially He alone is "Eternal" having no beginning. I consider Enoch and how he "Walked with God" and God "took" him. Not too dissimilar to us today thanks be to Yahshua through The Heavenly Father and His Holy Spirit.
Back to Predestination and "the wicked". It is hard to conceptualize that when God formed The Adam Gen 2:7, He knew already what Adam would do. But can He close His eyes to His foresight? Does He ever? Dunno!
But, is that to say because God, when He had the lump of clay in His hand that He was forming The Adam from, whom He Knew would sin, that He hesitated? If God hesitated with that lump, then His foreknowledge would betray His actions it seems to me. Perhaps His foreknowledge does not so much inform His creative actions, since that would seemingly violate the "free will" He created and allows, as much as it simply informs Him, giving new dimensions to "I knew you in the womb". I could go on, but I hesitate because I simply do not know. Either way, free will is there, perhaps the lump of clay was not made into The Adam pre-ordained to do as Adam did, but Fore-Known to do what he would do. So if God could close His eyes to any one of our futures would He know what we would do? If not "fore-Known", if so "fore-ordained". Man has his plans but God ordains his steps. God places the Kings/authorities, but based upon His foreknowledge and His intent.
Jer 31:20 KJV Is Ephraim my dear son?
is he a pleasant child? for since I spake against him,
I do earnestly remember him still: therefore my bowels are troubled for him; I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the LORD.
I consider The "Eternal" in the above and try to reconcile His foreknowledge to it. Or;
Isa 42:8-9 KJV I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images. (9) Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.
Isa 45:21-23 KJV Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me. (22) Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. (23) I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.
Perhaps a contemplation of The Eternal can be change a mans mind. Perhaps knowing the significance of "Free Will" pales in comparison to the humbling knowledge of knowing God "Foreknows" everything?
What was Pauls saying:
Rom 9:21 KJV Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honor, and another unto dishonour?
Did God in fact Pre-Ordain each lump? Or did He Fore-Know each lump and place them carefully where He willed them to be in order to accomplish His purposes? Dunno. Could he Fore-Ordain each lump and still maintain the integrity of "free will"? Is time itself the definition of "free will"? Dunno.
It's a marvelous thing though that our Heavenly Father, who is all powerful, all knowing, is a Just, Loving, Merciful, Wise God!
How blessed are we!
SG