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NASB | Ecclesiastes 6:10 ¶ Whatever exists has already been named, and it is known what man is; for he cannot dispute with him who is stronger than he is. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Ecclesiastes 6:10 ¶ Whatever exists has already been named [long ago], and it is known what [a frail being] man is; for he cannot dispute with Him who is mightier than he. |
Bible Question: There are some people who believe that we have free will, choice, and the ability to make our own decisions. Some even say that God changes His mind, so we must have choice.(ex: Sodom and Gomorrah) But when you read this verse from Ecclesiastes 6:10,"Everything has already been decided. It was known long ago what each person would be. So there's no use arguing with God about your destiny," it disproves this theory. So why are people still arguing about it? Or am I missing something? |
Bible Answer: Greetings Samantha! Even those who believe in free will (with the exception of Open Theist's) acknowledge that God knows our future choices. The fact that God knows the future (for us) doesn't change the fact that we also have choices to make in our lives. We are commanded many times in Scripture to make choices. If these choices are simply scripted for us by God, then they (by definition) are not choices. Jos. 24:15 says, "'But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.'" 2 Sam. 24:12 says, "'Go and tell David, 'This is what the LORD says: I am giving you three options. Choose one of them for me to carry out against you.''" One thing that this last verse indicates is that we don't have 'unlimited freewill'. :-) David was not allowed to reject all three options. He had to choose one of them. ;-) I can't choose to be a great basketball player. I can't choose my parents. I can't choose my physical traits. However, there are many things that I can choose. I can choose to obey God or disobey God. I can choose to accept or reject God. Once I have been saved, I can choose to live by the Spirit or not. The fact that God already knows my choices does not make them less real. Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |