--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: God can of course look in someone’s mind…" description: "\"“God can of course look in someone’s mind to discover what he is thinking, or look into the future to discover what she will do, but here and elsewhere..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99d/john-e-goldingay-23279_ahead-of-time_god-can-of-course-look-in-someone-s-mind_3118263.jpg" --- # God can of course look in someone’s mind to discover what… ![“God can of course look in someone’s mind to discover what he is thinking, or look into the future to discover what she will do, but here and elsewhere the Old Testament implies that God does not always do that. God waits to see what will happen. Perhaps it implies a kind of respect for human…” quote by John E. Goldingay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99d/john-e-goldingay-23279_ahead-of-time_god-can-of-course-look-in-someone-s-mind_3118263.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99d/john-e-goldingay-23279_ahead-of-time_god-can-of-course-look-in-someone-s-mind_3118263.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99d/john-e-goldingay-23279_ahead-of-time_god-can-of-course-look-in-someone-s-mind_3118263.jpg) > ““God can of course look in someone’s mind to discover what he is thinking, or look into the future to discover what she will do, but here and elsewhere the Old Testament implies that God does not always do that. God waits to see what will happen. Perhaps it implies a kind of respect for human beings, a desire to let them make their decisions and not mess with their minds, and a desire for a realtime relationship. If God always worked out ahead of time whatwe would do, and knew it before we did, it would introduce an element of phoniness into the relationship. But that’s just my guess; the Bible makes clear only the fact of God’s not knowing things ahead of time, not the rationale.”” [John E. Goldingay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-e-goldingay/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. God’s limited foreknowledge respects human free will and fosters genuine relationship. **In simple terms:** God allows humans to choose. Key Takeaway Value freedom and relational authenticity. Themes theology free will divine nature relationship Mood thoughtful curious Type theological philosophical When to use this quote - personal decision making - spiritual counseling - ethical leadership - education Key Concepts process theology philosophical anthropology existentialism Questions to Reflect On - Does uncertainty enhance love? - What are the limits of divine intervention? A Different Perspective Some argue divine omniscience conflicts with free will. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ahead of time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ahead-of-time/) [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible/) [Does God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/does-god/) [God Knowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-knowing-292206/) [God Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-waits-1172892/) [Implies God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/implies-god-2192739/) [Old testament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-testament/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Relationship God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relationship-god/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“So here’s the real heart of the matter: Does God have a secret will of direction that He expects us to figure out before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/so-here-s-the-real-heart-of-the-matter-does-god-have-a-secret-will-of/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) > [“One reader of an early draft of this chapter complained at this point, saying that by treating the hypothesis of God as just one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-c-dennett/one-reader-of-an-early-draft-of-this-chapter-complained-at-this-point/) [Daniel C. 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It also implies man's ability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-richardson/human-free-will-implies-god-s-prior-decision-not-to-tamper-with-the/) [Don Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-richardson/) > [I don't say that I don't believe in God because that implies that there is a God for me not to believe in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/i-don-t-say-that-i-don-t-believe-in-god-because-that-implies-that/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [How does God deal with your bitter heart? He reminds you that what you have is more important than what you don't have. 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God loves mankind so much, and in a very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-l-duewel/god-waits-for-you-to-communicate-with-him-you-have-instant-direct/) [Wesley L Duewel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-l-duewel/) > [God waits patiently for me to wake up, grow up, come to the awareness that great works take time, that nothing truly worthwhile can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-royer/god-waits-patiently-for-me-to-wake-up-grow-up-come-to-the-awareness/) [Jean Royer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-royer/) > [God waits to win back his own flowers as gifts from man's hands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/god-waits-to-win-back-his-own-flowers-as-gifts-from-man-s-hands/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [God waits for us to create him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominique-de-menil/god-waits-for-us-to-create-him/) [Dominique de Menil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominique-de-menil/) ## More by John E. 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