God "DOES NOT" ...know everything

by gumby 10 Replies latest watchtower bible

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  gumby

  Many have argued here if God knows all. Some say no....or he would have to have known the outcome of his creation and he wouldn't have continued. He chose not to know. But think about this.

  The 19th chapter of Genesis is the famous story of Sodom, Gomorrah, and Lot. This narrative begins with two angels of the Lord arriving at Sodom (Gen. 19:1), which city the Lord will soon destroy because its people fornicate (Jud. vs. 7), unless he finds at least ten righteous people living there (Gen. 18:32).

  [Earlier in Gen. 18:20-21, the Lord turns a phrase curiously. In explaining his intentions to Abraham concerning Sodom and Gomorrah, the Lord seems to admit to ignorance of the situation in those cities:

  And the Lord said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous; I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know. (my italics)

  In no uncertain terms, the Lord confesses to not knowing, even as he speaks, just how unrighteous Sodom and Gomorrah are. He is going down to "see", to ascertain, the degree of the two cities' sinfulness, because he does not know. Punctuating these words, the Lord then states plainly that he will know, meaning, of course, that he does not know at present. The theological conundrum arising from this confession is self-evident: how could God be omniscient and unaware of something simultaneously?] Makes ya wonder eh?
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  gumby

  Talk ta me ya bastards!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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  Realist

  hello you bloody old bastard!

  my question is...did the guys who wrote that nonsense want it to be viewed as a metaphor or did they intend it as an actual account of what happened? in case of the latter they were just total idiots. ... but i would say they tried to put some kind of deeper meaning in all that trash.
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  larc

  I find the same problem with the story of Adam and Eve. Satan is tempting Eve, and God doesn't know what is going on. God also does not seem to be very good at setting limits as a parent. He allows angels to come to earth and have girlie friends and produce offsring. Now, why didn't he put a stop to this? I know it was his day off, and he had been quite busy the previous week, but I do think he should have paid more attention to detail. After all, when you delegate, you do have to follow up and appraise performance, you know. As a parent or a manager, I don't think God deserves high marks.
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  kes152

  Dearest Gumby,

  To the contrary of what "men" may tell you, our Father indeed knows everything. The very Spirit that proceeds from the Father in the name of his Son "teaches us all things, and brings back to our minds all the things he told us." (John 14:26) How can the Spirit of Truth that proceeds from the Father teach us all things if the Father himself does not know "all things?" Indeed, the Father knows all things both good and bad (Genesis 3:22). Our Father said to us through his Son by the mouth of Isaiah saying, "For I am God, and there is no other; I am Jah and there is no one like me, declaring the end of a matter even from the beginning, and from days long ago not yet done." (Isaiah 46:9, 10)

  What you read in Genesis 19 when our Father sent his Son to "see" the things that were taking place is something he does even today. Whenever there is an outcry he sends for his Son, our "mercy seat" (Numbers 7:89) to 'behold' the things that are being done in all the city. If there can be any mercy at all, that can be given in behalf of the city. There was none, no one was searching for Jah, no one seeking after righteousness (Psalms 14:2, 3). The Father, knowing all things, already knew that there was not so much as one righteous man left in that city. So, he revealed the matter to Abraham and spoke as if he did not know the city to give Abraham the opportunity to give his opinion. The Father already knew there were no one seeking righteousness in the city, but for the sake of Abraham, he looked again knowing the outcome would be the same. He did this because Abraham was his friend, and he wanted Abraham to know the things he was doing and why (Genesis 18:17-19; Amos 3:7; John 15:15; James 2:23).

  Peace to you,

  Aaron
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  rebel

  Gumby,

  I am a bit concerned about things I have found out on this forum concerning the Bible. I suppose you will say that you only want to converse with people who believe the Bible 100%. However, if anyone reading this can remember what was said about the fact that people living before the time of the book of Genesis worshiped a God called Jehovah, I would be grateful for further information. I have read so much lately, I am beginning to forget where I read it.

  xxR
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  kes152

  Dearest Rebel,

  What are you wanting to know?

  Aaron
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  Carmel

  Hey,

  Remember this is the god that has to "rest" for a full day just because he lit the fuse of the big bang!

  caveman who thinks someone needs to get off the literalism.
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  gumby

  Larc,

  Satan is tempting Eve, and God doesn't know what is going on.

  Ah my friend...we must remember, he did see Eve goof because he went "looking for them" only to find them hiding,,,,then God said.."did you eat of the tree in the middle of the garden?....( actually your right...he didn't see because he thought Adam did it and asked him. Then adam like a good dude blamed it on the old lady.( isuppose the argument could be used.....he really knew.....but acted like he didn't.)

  Rebel,

  The people you are looking for that lived BEFORE the Israelites were called the "ugarits." They worshipped Yahweh (jehovah). He was a lesser warrior God. "Jehovah" was not only the God of the Israelites.

  Kes152,

  The Father, knowing all things, already knew that there was not so much as one righteous man left in that city.

  Rightous as in lot, who "chose" to be an official at the city gate of a bunch of 'depraved' homosexuals? You mean lot who slept with his daughters?....the guy the angels had to "drag" out of town?.......that rightous guy?

  He also kills "innocent" babies and children. And don't tell me it's because of their dirty parents either.....jehovah isn't supposed to punish children for the parents error. Want scriptural proof?

  Edited by - Gumby on 30 December 2002 21:57:40
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  peacefulpete

  rebel...The matter of the name YHWH or YH being preIsraelite is a complex one. As evidentally the tribe worshipped EL originally then adopted the Midianite practice of addressing their patron god as YHWH. Midianite or Kenite name places utilized YHWH or varients long before any Moses was supposed to have lived. The name appears in the royal archves of Tell-Mardikh-Ebla, and have been dated to 2400 B.C. However not all agree on this date as is always the case. The most important work relevant is that of Professor Frank Moore Cross. Hisbook :Canaanite Myth and Hebrew Epic was ground breaking research. In the book he identifies the different eponyms of the god of the O.T. and demonstrates clear parallels to Ugarit and Midianite texts. The god EL was the chief god of a pantheon of lesser gods. Yawah like Baal were servants of EL who in time took on the role as top god in their respective cultures. The book is a challenging read but the effort is enlightening. It is of course ground breaking meaning controvertial and varying opinions about the details are many. The basic developement of Yhwh is however well established.

  Edited by - peacefulpete on 2 January 2003 15:41:8