Ok, I thought I would broaden my thread that questioned if God designed a specific person for each of us to marry - for those of us he wants to marry, that is. In other words, is God intentional about who specifically we marry or does he just put forth possibilities for us.intentional
ɪnˈtɛnʃ(ə)n(ə)l/Submit
adjective
done on purpose; deliberate.
"intentional wrongdoing and harm"
synonyms: deliberate, calculated, conscious, done on purpose, intended, planned, meant, considered, studied, knowing, wilful, wanton, purposeful, purposive, purposed, premeditated, pre-planned, thought out in advance, prearranged, preconceived, predetermined; aforethought; voluntary, volitional; datedprepense
See Genesis 24 about issac and rebekah. The servant was very intentional in his prayer although abraham seemed not so much. As long as the woman met the general criteria he had then any woman included in that would do. Do we see God like that? As long as our spouse is christian then its just up to us. It doesnt really matter?
But in order to even answer that, we need to look at how intentional God is.
When I read the bible I dont see God really leaving things up to 'chance'. No one can thwart Gods plans and God is well able to soften and harden hearts at his will. We have free choice but to what extent?
Consider just how many prophecies there are in the bible concerning Jesus. Things had to happen a certain way for it all to come to pass. Was it a simple matter of if Mary had said 'No, not me Lord, choose another virgin' would God of simply chosen someone else? Or did he pre determin the mother of Jesus long before Mary was born - not merely because he knew she would say yes. Others might of said yes too.
Now jonah said no and moses said no...but Did God simply move on to others who would say yes?
God will intentionally make it next to impossible for us to say no...though we still can. Why does he bother trying so hard if anyone willing will do?
Is God at the mercy of our choices? He certainly wasnt with pharaoh.
