GodGod: Infinitely More Wise Than TomTom

I am a bit of a techno-geek. OK, im a BIG techno-geek. I once mounted a poster of the original Titanium G4 PowerBook above my desk at work and stared at it, drooling, as if it were a picture of a pin-up girl. I know, sad huh?

Well, one piece of technology that is available for us to use today sprang into my mind today as i pondered the composition of the future, free will, and God's providence: Portable GPS (Global Positioning System) Car Navigation Systems. You might have seen commercials for these devices. They are really cool! They communicate with satellites orbiting the earth and plot the most convenient routes in complex urban areas. In one commercial i saw, they even claim they can warn you when you are approach gridlock and provide you with an alternate route to your original destination!
ISNT THAT AMAZING!?!

You may find the combination of this technological product and theological issue strange, and you'd probably be right. But i hope to show you how the former helps me to understand the latter.

First, lets examine the scriptures. Many of the most profound passages that deal with God's knowledge and control of the future are found in Isaiah. And of those passages, Is. 46:9-11 is one of the more striking.

"remember the former things of old;
for I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is none like me,
[emphasis]declaring the end from the beginning
and from ancient times things not yet done,[/emphasis]
saying, 'My counsel shall stand,
and I will accomplish all my purpose,'
calling a bird of prey from the east,
the man of my counsel from a far country.
I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass;
I have purposed, and I will do it."

(emphasis mine)

These are remarkable statements of God's sovereignty over history and control of the future. What are we to make of them? Upon first glance, one can easily read them to mean that God is determining every event in history including the future, free acts of people. And this is probably the way in which most people have understood this passage. However, it is my contention that it is not necessary to conclude from this text that because God has determined the destination of history, he has also determined the route by which we arrive there.

Returning to TomTom, it strikes me as incredibly relevant that the GPS device does not (and even more so COULD not) know in advance the traffic conditions of a particular city on a particular day. Yet, when it is confirmed that a particular city on a particular day is experiencing gridlock due to unforeseen circumstances (such as a 10-car pile up), it has been programmed to provide the user/driver with alternate routes to the original destination.

Those who hold to a Calvinistic/Fatalistic view of God/the future typically claim that these verses teach meticulous providence (the belief that God determines every detail of history without exception). In fact, at times they argue it would NOT be possible for God to determine the end without also determining the means to that end. They scoff at proponents of Open Theism saying "If the future is not determined by God, how then can we trust him to accomplish his will in the eschaton?"

Sidenote: I find this type of reasoning incredibly ironic considering these same types are the ones accusing Open Theists of "limiting" God.

However, i think based on the premise that God is infinitely more wise than a GPS navigation device like TomTom, it is conceivable and even biblically consistent that God could ensure history's arrival at his desired destination without necessarily determining the route by which it arrives.

I would even go so far as to say the scripture makes this picture astoundingly clear in the story of the exodus. In this story, the destination is the promised land---a land flowing with milk and honey. However, due to Israel's sin and stiff-neckedness, the route by which God would lead his people there was significantly altered. (Numbers 14)

In our own lives, we can see clearly in retrospect how the sinful choices we have made led to a significantly altered path back to God's will. But regardless of the detour, God, being Omni-resourceful, can and does provide us a way back to him and to a better future. He will not leave you, nor forsake you. But rather, he is a faithful Helper and Guide.

Just as Paul proclaims, "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." - 1 Corinthians 10:13, 14