Foreknowledge by Joel Hayes - Library of Theology

This prophecy has already been noticed, and we only add that God could have destroyed the house
of Eli by the hand of men without making use of a wicked instrument.
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Will, Part II., Section XI., p. 63.
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The prophecy against Solomon, 1 Kings 11:11-13, was fulfilled by Jeroboam's rebellion and
usurpation, which are spoken of as his wickedness, 2 Chron. 13:5, 6, compare verse 18. 221
Jeroboam's rebellion and usurpation were not wickedness, whatever Abijah may have thought about
it. God gave him the ten tribes over which he became king, indeed, God told him to take them, "and this was
the cause why he lifted up his hand against the king" (1 Kings 11:28-39). Surely it was not wicked in
Jeroboam to do what God told him to do. Jereboam's sin wherewith he caused Israel to sin was an entirely
different thing. See 1 Kings 12:28-30.
The prophecy against Jeroboam's family, 1 Kings 14, was fulfilled by the conspiracy,
treason, and cruel murders of Baasha, 1 Kings 15:27, &c. The predictions of the prophet Jehu
against the house of Baasha, 1 Kings 16, at the beginning, were fulfilled by the treason and
parricide of Zimri, 1 Kings 16:9, 13, 20. 222
These passages afford additional illustration and proof of the doctrine set forth in the preceding
chapter. The destruction of the houses of Jeroboam and Baasha was the Lord's work, which he performed
by the hands of Baasha and Zimri. "Behold I will bring evil upon the house of Jeroboam," etc. President
Edwards thinks that this action of Baasha was wicked. Perhaps he is right. Baasha certainly did evil in the
sight of the Lord, but whether this special action was wicked or not the Scriptures do not say. If President
Edwards is correct, then evidently God used the wicked disposition of Baasha and Zimri to accomplish his
purposes. This does not prove, however, that God knew beforehand that they would have a wicked
disposition; for, if they had chosen to love and obey God, God could have caused that love and obedience
to accomplish the same end. The same prophecy was uttered concerning the house of Ahab, 1 Kings 21:21,
22, which was fulfilled by the conspiracy and treason of Jehu, 2 Kings 9, 10; yet this action of Jehu was
certainly right. 2 Kings 10:30.
The prophecies of the destruction of Jerusalem, and the land of Judah, were absolute, 2
Kings 20:17-19, chap. 22:15 to the end. It was foretold in Hezekiah's time, and was abundantly
insisted on in the book of the prophet Isaiah, who wrote nothing after Hezekiah's days. It was
foretold in Josiah's time, in the beginning of a great reformation, 2 Kings 22. And it is manifest by
innumerable things in the predictions of the prophets, relating to this event, its time, its
circumstances, its continuance and end; the return from the captivity, the restoration of the temple,
city and land, and many circumstances and consequences of that; I say, these show plainly, that
the prophecies of this great event were absolute. And yet this event was connected with, and
dependent on two things in men's moral conduct: First, the injurious rapine and violence of the king
of Babylon and his people, as the efficient cause; which God often speaks of as what he highly
resented, and would severely punish; and 2dly, the final obstinacy of the Jews. That great event is
often spoken of as suspended on this, Jer. 4:1, 5:1, 7:1-7, 11:1-6, 17:24 to the end, 25:1-7, 26:1-8,
13 and 38:17, 18. Therefore this destruction and captivity could not be foreknown, unless such a
moral conduct of the Chaldeans and Jews had been foreknown. And then it was foretold, that the
people should be finally obstinate, to the destruction and utter desolation of the city and land. Isa.
6:9-11, Jer. 1:18, 19, 7:27-29, Ezek. 3:7 and 24:13, 14. 223
Will, Part II., Section XI., p. 63.
Will, Part II., Section XI., p. 63.
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