Open theism and Jesus's prediction of Judas's betrayal

[KingsGambit]

Thats rich, considering you and RB are quoting a verse from a passage encouraging believers to explore and learn, study and possess knowledge:

With all due respect, I don't see where either of us have implied that knowledge and learning are at all negative. What your earlier post seemed to be doing was to speculate about how God might act in a hypothetical situation, which seems like a fruitless endeavour given how little we understand about how God works.

[footwasher]

With all due respect, I don't see where either of us have implied that knowledge and learning are at all negative. What your earlier post seemed to be doing was to speculate about how God might act in a hypothetical situation, which seems like a fruitless endeavour given how little we understand about how God works.

Good example of bad context, using the verse to prove God's unknowable, incomprehensible nature. The second half gives the proper context.

“Indeed, my plans are not like your plans, and my deeds are not like your deeds, for just as the sky is higher than the earth, so my deeds are superior to your deeds and my plans superior to your plans."

His plans are not your plans because they are SUPERIOR. IOW, get rid of your weak works and words, and appropriate God's superior works and words:

“Hey, all who are thirsty, come to the water! You who have no money, come! Buy and eat! Come! Buy wine and milk without money and without cost! Why pay money for something that will not nourish you? Why spend your hard-earned money on something that will not satisfy? Listen carefully to me and eat what is nourishing! Enjoy fine food! Pay attention and come to me! Listen, so you can live!


Then, THEN, God will reward you:

Then I will make an unconditional covenantal promise to you, just like the reliable covenantal promises I made to David. Look, I made him a witness to nations, a ruler and commander of nations.” Look, you will summon nations you did not previously know; nations that did not previously know you will run to you, because of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he bestows honor on you.


......
The rain and snow fall from the sky and do not return, but instead water the earth and make it produce and yield crops, and provide seed for the planter and food for those who must eat. In the same way, the promise that I make does not return to me, having accomplished nothing. No, it is realized as I desire and is fulfilled as I intend.” Indeed you will go out with joy; you will be led along in peace; the mountains and hills will give a joyful shout before you, and all the trees in the field will clap their hands.


Agree?

[yxboom]

Good example of bad context, using the verse to prove God's unknowable, incomprehensible nature. The second half gives the proper context.

“Indeed, my plans are not like your plans, and my deeds are not like your deeds, for just as the sky is higher than the earth, so my deeds are superior to your deeds and my plans superior to your plans."

His plans are not your plans because they are SUPERIOR. IOW, get rid of your weak works and words, and appropriate God's superior works and words:

“Hey, all who are thirsty, come to the water! You who have no money, come! Buy and eat! Come! Buy wine and milk without money and without cost! Why pay money for something that will not nourish you? Why spend your hard-earned money on something that will not satisfy? Listen carefully to me and eat what is nourishing! Enjoy fine food! Pay attention and come to me! Listen, so you can live!


Then, THEN, God will reward you:

Then I will make an unconditional covenantal promise to you, just like the reliable covenantal promises I made to David. Look, I made him a witness to nations, a ruler and commander of nations.” Look, you will summon nations you did not previously know; nations that did not previously know you will run to you, because of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he bestows honor on you.


......
The rain and snow fall from the sky and do not return, but instead water the earth and make it produce and yield crops, and provide seed for the planter and food for those who must eat. In the same way, the promise that I make does not return to me, having accomplished nothing. No, it is realized as I desire and is fulfilled as I intend.” Indeed you will go out with joy; you will be led along in peace; the mountains and hills will give a joyful shout before you, and all the trees in the field will clap their hands.


Agree?

I would note that the context is primarily a contrast of God's plans and deeds for mercy and willingness to include and forgive against our own willingness to exclude and judge.

[footwasher]

I would note that the context is primarily a contrast of God's plans and deeds for mercy and willingness to include and forgive against our own willingness to exclude and judge.

Quote
Verse 7 could be taken in one of two ways. If the “wicked” refers to all unbelievers, then this is a general call for repentance and salvation. But that does not fit the context very well. Rather, the “wicked/evil” are those in Israel who judge the LORD by the standards of their experience and mistrust Him. It would then be a rebuke of very weak faith among those who professed to be part of the covenant people. Of course, the verse is general enough in its wording that it could embrace both—obviously if people were doing wicked things as well, they should abandon those. This is a clear teaching in the Bible.

The context favors this latter view, that is, it is a call for the people to change their weak faith to confidence, for the theme of God’s ways and thoughts are here introduced. People should abandon their thoughts (pessimism, skepticism, weak faith—which are evil) and their ways (resigned to exile, disobedience to covenant—which are wicked). Not only abandon, but repent! Such thoughts and ways are sinful—but God will forgive their foolish unbelief. But their repentance must issue into faith; they must act in faith on God’s thoughts and ways—put faith into action.

http://bible.org/seriespage/god%E2%8...-isaiah-551-13