They described Him as Omniscient; infinite in understanding, wonderful in counsel, perfect in knowledge, declaring the end from the beginning, knowing and foreknowing even the thoughts of men.
For had the man not prayed, God, foreknowing this, might not have arranged for the event to have happened.
Never being sure of these, I cannot be said to actually foreknow the event; so that foreknowing with man is never more than foreguessing.
Walk life's dark ways, ye seem to say, With love's divine foreknowing That where man sees but withered leaves, God sees sweet flowers growing.
For a valuable article on the whole subject, though advocating the view that God foreknows acts by foreknowing motives, see Bib.
But it may be said that foreknowing acts through their motives is not foreknowing at all, but is reasoning or inference rather.
