God is All-Knowing Review Questions

Before you begin this study, look up the following passages of Scripture and consider what they teach about God's knowledge (Psalm 139:1-6, 16; Proverbs 15:3, 11; 1 Samuel 23:10-13).

 

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Do you know the balancings of the clouds,

the wondrous works of him who is perfect in knowledge,

Job 37:16

 

What do you think it means for God to be perfect in knowledge? The following quotation is John Piper’s attempt at answering this question. Read over it slowly and be stunned by God’s magnificence.

 

 

[God] knows all recorded facts—all the facts stored in all the computers and all the books in all the libraries in the world. But vastly more than that, he knows all events at the macro level—all that happens on earth and in the atmosphere and in all the farthest reaches of space in every galaxy and star and planet. And all events at the micro level—all that happens in molecules and atoms and electrons and protons and neutrons and quarks. He knows all their movements and every location and every condition of every particle of the universe at every nano-second of time. And he knows all events that happen in human minds and wills—all volitional and emotional and spiritual events—all thoughts and choices and feelings.

 

And that includes past, present, and future. He knows every event that has ever happened and ever will happen at every level of existence: physical, mental, volitional. And he knows how all facts and all events, of every kind, relate to each other and affect each other. When one event happens, he not only sees it, but he sees the eternal chain of effects that flow from it and from all the billions of events that are unleashed by every other event. He knows all this without the slightest strain on his mind. That is what it means to be God. (J. Piper, The Deep Riches and Wisdom and Knowledge of God available from www.desiringgod.org)

 

 

The verses we have seen show us that God has complete knowledge of all things past, present and future. This includes the knowledge of what would happen under possible circumstances (1 Samuel 23:10-13).

 

 

Exhaustive Divine Foreknowledge

 

A group of people known as ‘Open Theists’ have objected to the idea that God knows the future exhaustively. They claim that God cannot know the future free decisions and actions of His creatures. What follows is some of the Biblical evidence for God’s exhaustive knowledge of the future (including free human actions and decisions).

 

1. Accurately foretelling the future is the test of a true prophet.

 

And if you say in your heart, 'How may we know the word that the LORD has not spoken?' - when a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word that the LORD has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously. You need not be afraid of him. (Deuteronomy 18:21-22)

 

The whole logic of the test presupposes God’s knowledge of the future. If there is the possibility that God could be wrong in what He declares concerning the future, then the test does not work. Let us remember that the life of the prophet was on the line with this test. False prophets were to be killed.

 

2. Knowledge of the future is the test of a true God.

 

Set forth your case, says the LORD; bring your proofs, says the King of Jacob. Let them bring them, and tell us what is to happen. Tell us the former things, what they are, that we may consider them, that we may know their outcome; or declare to us the things to come. Tell us what is to come hereafter, that we may know that you are gods; do good, or do harm, that we may be dismayed and terrified. (Isaiah 41:21-23; see also Isaiah 42:9; 43:9-12; 44:7; 45:21; 46:10; 48:3-7)

 

This passage is part of a contest between the LORD and the false Babylonian gods. One of the tests put forward is knowledge of the future. If God could be wrong or ignorant about the future, then this test doesn’t work. It is interesting to note that Jesus applies this same test to Himself in John 13:19.

 

3. God’s declarations of the future include free human actions and decisions.

 

And behold, a man of God came out of Judah by the word of the LORD to Bethel. Jeroboam was standing by the altar to make offerings. And the man cried against the altar by the word of the LORD and said, "O altar, altar, thus says the LORD: 'Behold, a son shall be born to the house of David, Josiah by name, and he shall sacrifice on you the priests of the high places who make offerings on you, and human bones shall be burned on you. " (1 Kings 13:1-2)

 

This is just one example among many in the Bible. Consider all the millions of free human actions and decisions that had to take place for this prophecy to be brought to pass.

 

Jesus Himself made many predictions of the future, including Judas’ betrayal (John 6:64; 13:18-19) and Peter’s denial (John 13:38). These were free acts in which both men were held responsible. He also predicted the way Peter would die (John 21:18-19).

 

 

Eternal Independent Knowledge

 

When talking about God’s foreknowledge, people often speak of God looking down the corridors of time and seeing what takes place. This gives the impression that God passively takes in knowledge by observation.

 

That view is problematic because it makes God dependent on things outside of Himself for His knowledge. This leads us to ask some questions. On what basis does God know what He knows? How is God’s knowledge consistent with His independence and unchangeableness? Consider Isaiah 46:9-10 for a clue.

 

remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, 'My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,' (Isaiah 46:9-10)

 

In this passage we see a connection between God’s ability to declare the end from the beginning and His counsel or purpose. God knows the future because He has purposed the future.

 

God knows himself and the world, both by knowing himself. He knows himself intuitively and perfectly. He knows the world also by knowing himself: He knows what is possible in the world by knowing his own powers; and he knows what is actual in the world (at all times) by knowing his own plan, as well as by his perfect awareness of the temporal accomplishment of that plan. In other words, he does not depend on the creation for his knowledge even of the creation. (J. Frame, Divine Aseity and Apologetics, available from http://reformedperspectives.org/newfiles/joh_frame/VT_Divine%20Aseity%20and%20Apologetics.pdf)