I watched the University of Washington play the Oregon Ducks tonight in football. I was rooting for the Ducks to win because they would have a chance at the national championship if they did win. They lost in a very close game but had multiple chances to win. There were so many close plays that could have gone either way. As I was watching, I wondered if God would be involved so that one team or the other would win because of His influence. If He did, what would be the reason? Maybe because one team had more believers, or one team prayed more. I firmly believe that God knew who would win, but that doesn’t mean He influenced the game one way or the other.

We as people have freedom and responsibility, and we make good and bad choices that result in rewards and consequences. We are not simply puppets carrying out our pre-programmed roles. God foreknows all that will happen, but His foreknowledge doesn’t mean it will happen or that He caused it to happen.

1 Samuel 23:10-13 Then David said, “O Lord God of Israel, Your servant has heard for certain that Saul is seeking to come to Keilah to destroy the city on my account. Will the men of Keilah surrender me into his hand? Will Saul come down just as Your servant has heard? O Lord God of Israel, I pray, tell Your servant.” And the Lord said, “He will come down.” Then David said, “Will the men of Keilah surrender me and my men into the hand of Saul?” And the Lord said, “They will surrender you.” Then David and his men, about six hundred, arose and departed from Keilah, and they went wherever they could go. When it was told Saul that David had escaped from Keilah, he gave up the pursuit.

All of this is to say that whoever plays better wins.