Q: Can God experience ignorance? If He can then He isn't Omniscient and if He can't then He is not Omnipotent. I was asked this question awhile back and I couldn't figure out an answer. Can I get any help?
A: No, I don't think God can experience ignorance. If we take the main definitions for ignorance and apply them to God we do not get the idea of an omniscient or omnipotent deity. Ignorance is defined as having a lack of knowledge, learning or information. Another definition states that it is the condition of being uneducated, unaware or uninformed. Now, would you say that God is lacking in knowledge, learning or information? Of course you wouldn't. Nor would you, or any Christian, say that God is uneducated, unaware or uninformed. These attributes are more descriptive of mankind then they are of God. Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, said, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End (Revelation 22:13)." Who can make such a claim other than God?
Being omniscient means having complete or unlimited knowledge, awareness, or understanding; perceiving all things. If God doesn't have unlimited understanding than Isaiah would not have written that "He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom (Isaiah 40:28)." There is no better definition of God's awareness than when the author of Hebrews writes that "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account (Hebrews 4:13)." The one area that no other person can see is what is on our hearts. If we do not tell others of what our hearts feel they will never know. Yet, the Psalmist asks, "would not God have discovered it, since he knows the secrets of the heart (Psalm 44:21)?" Nothing goes unnoticed by God. However, God can choose to act as if something has not occurred if He deems it necessary to do so. When Christ died on the cross He took away our sins from the eyes of God. And scripture records God promising to us that our "sins and lawless acts I will remember no more (Hebrews 10:17)." This doesn't mean God is ignorant of our sinful actions, but that He chooses not to hold them against us.
God's ability to choose not to remember our sins doesn't take away His omnipotence. In fact, it affirms it. If omnipotence means to be almighty or infinite in power wouldn't that include the ability to decide when, where and to what extent to use that power? In the Garden of Eden the Bible records that God brought all the animals to Adam "to see what he would name them(Genesis 2:19)." God allowing Adam to name the animals doesn't make Him any less almighty or infinite in power. Just after the Fall of man God asks Adam and Eve, "Where are you (Genesis 3:9)" and then later asks "Who told you that you were naked (Genesis 3:11)?" I am sure God knew the answer to both questions. But, maybe, in His love for them, God allowed Adam and Eve to have some privacy. Thus giving the serpent an opportunity to deceive them both. This action by God is no different than a parent knowing their kids are in the house, but allowing them some time to themselves. It doesn't make that mother or father any less a parent. Nor does God doing the same thing make Him any less an omnipotent God.
If that isn't enough, scripture reminds us that God is "mighty in power (Psalm 147:5)," "no one can withstand [Him] (2 Chronicles 20:6)," "no one can hold back His hand (Daniel 4:35)," "nothing is impossible with God (Luke 1:37)" and "nothing is too hard for [Him] (Jeremiah 32:17)." Our God is a living and active God who participates in the lives of believers and who interacts with His creation. There is no greater evidence of that interaction than what we have in the Person of Jesus Christ. From the beginning of time God knew that the Fall of mankind would occur. And He already had the plan in place to redeem mankind by becoming one of us, living a sinless life, dying in our place on the cross and, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, offering us everlasting life. And in the midst of all that He "made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live (Acts 17:26)." Only an omniscient and omnipotent God can see the end from the beginning, know our hearts, interact with each of us individually and orchestrate the redemption of mankind all at the same time.
The person who asked you the question has not taken God by surprise or put forth a challenge to God that He cannot answer. It is written that there is nothing new under the sun. In the book of Job, in the midst of Job trying to question God, God questions Job. The individual who asked you the question may want to read some of what God said to Job (Job 38-39). To make a long story short, I will point out two things that I believe one should think about before they question the omniscience and omnipotence of God. The first thing is God asking of Job "Where were you...(Job 38:4)?" None of us created anything on this world or in this universe. God did. We don't know what tomorrow holds. God knows. We did not speak and the world came into existence. God did. Before we, in our stubborn pride, question God we should take account of our place in His economy. Before we question God's deity by asking if He is ignorant, we should first think of the immeasurable amounts of stuff we are ignorant of. Perhaps, then we will be humbled enough to do what Job eventually did. And this brings me to the second thing I want to mention; Job's response to God. Job answered God by saying, "I am unworthy—how can I reply to you? I put my hand over my mouth. I spoke once, but I have no answer— twice, but I will say no more (Job 40:4-5)." There is nothing wrong with asking these questions of God, just be prepared for His answer. It just might reveal how ignorant we are of Him and His ways. I hope this helps.
No comments:
Post a Comment