I've asked this before but here goes again.
Does God determine everything that happens even down to the smallest detail?
I'll use an example to illustrate: Does god determine what I will have for lunch next Friday?
Or do I decide what I'm going to have for lunch next Friday and God had foreknowledge of my choice?
There is not one atom or molecule that exists or moves outside of God's control;
1._____ God hath decreed in himself, from all eternity, by the most wise and holy counsel of his own will, freely and unchangeably, all things,aken away, but rather established; in which appears his wisdom in disposing all things, and power and faithfulness in accomplishing his decree.
( Isaiah 46:10; Ephesians 1:11; Hebrews 6:17; Romans 9:15, 18; James 1:13; 1 John 1:5; Acts 4:27, 28; John 19:11; Numbers 2 whatsoever comes to pass; yet so as thereby is God neither the author of sin nor hath fellowship with any therein; nor is violence offered to the will of the creature, nor yet is the liberty or contingency of second causes t3:19; Ephesians 1:3-5 )
2._____ Although God knoweth whatsoever may or can come to pass, upon all supposed conditions,
yet hath he not decreed anything, because he foresaw it as future, or as that which would come to pass upon such conditions.( Acts 15:18; Romans 9:11, 13, 16, 18 )
You make your plan what you want to have for lunch...subject to God's will.
You plan to have a roast beef sandwich for lunch, so you go to the store to buy the roast beef. The man cooking the roast beef has a heart attack and dies...the roast beef burns to a crisp....you settle for a ham and swiss..as there is no other store in range. You made your plan, but providentially you were over ruled.
Or do I decide what I'm going to have for lunch next Friday and God had foreknowledge of my choice
It is not foreknowledge...it is God's omniscence that he knows all things, and yet the ham and swiss is God's provision for you....The why it happened this way...is part of the secret things of God. The man cooking the roast beef came up upon his appointed time of death.
In scripture gen 50:20 is a classic passage on this;
20But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.
Paul made plans...subject to God's will;
21But bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus.
This passage in james teaches the same principle;
13Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:
14Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
15For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.
As christians we make plans as best we can according to the revealed will of God...but we trust that God knows best and will answer plans according to His eternal purpose.
but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
29Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.
30But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
