Bible Question:

Did God know Satan was going to tempt Adam and Eve? Did He know or ordain the Fall?

Bible Answer:

This is a great question because the answer helps us understand our God better. We want to start by asking what is God like. One the first questions I ask myself is, “What do we know about Him that can help answer the question?” Well, we know that God is omniscient and sovereign.

God Knows Everything

We know that God is all powerful and we sometimes forget He knows everything (1 John 3:20). Maybe the most interesting passage in the Bible about what God knows is Psalms 139:1-4. Here we learn that God,

. . . searches us to know us (v. 1)
. . . knows when we sit and lay down (v. 2)
. . . discerns when we go out and get up (v. 3)
. . . God knows our every thoughts – WOW! (v. 2)
. . . knows everything about us (v. 3)
. . . completely knows the next word on our tongue (v. 4)

What do we know about God? We know that He knows everything about us and according to Job 38-41 God knows everything about our universe. So did God know that Satan was going to tempt Adam and Eve? Yes! Did He know the Fall would occur? Yes!

God Does Not Control Everything

Before leaving Psalms 139 look at verse 5. The passage says that God “Hems me in – behind and before.” The passage says He is in control. Daniel 2:21 gives us another interesting view of God by indicating that He changes the seasons and puts kings on their thrones and removes them. Daniel 4:28-35 reveals that made King Nebuchadnezzar act like an animal for seven years – the king was insane. Yet, God does not absolutely make every decision for us. Look at the following verses:

So they ate and were well filled, For He gave them their own desire. (NIV) Ps 78:29

So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts to follow their own devices. (NIV) Ps 81:12

And He gave them their request, But sent leanness into their soul. (NIV) Ps 106:15

You hem me in – behind and before. (NIV) Ps 139:5

In the past, he let all nations go their own way. (NIV) Acts 14:16

Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent. (NIV) Acts 17:30

God controls every event in my life but He does not limit us. In the verses presented above, Ps 78:29; 81:12 and Rom 1:16 clearly says that God allows us to do all the sinning we want. He does not control that. James 1:13 tells us that God does not tempt anyone and God cannot be tempted. So what can we conclude about God? He is in control but when it comes to our desire to sin He lets do what we want within limits He has determined. So did He ordain the Fall? Has He ordained my every thought and action? No, He decided to allow it.

Conclusion

Yes, God knew Satan was going to Adam and Eve and He knew about the Fall. No, God did not ordain the Fall. God allowed man to do what he wanted to do.

Suggested Links:

Is everything mapped out for our life?
What does God know about us?
Seeking God's Will