Questions and Answers

Does God know the hearts of men or not?

We'll assume that God knows the hearts of men, so let us determine if the below three verses are necessarily contradictions.

Could it be that these three instances simply serve to reveal and verify to man that which is already known by God? God is not some aloof sky-god who merely dictates. Instead, he relates to us.

By asking questions, by claiming to have found something, he relates and allows man to play an active, not passive, role in the relationship.

For example, Abraham now knew that God knew his heart. And he also knew God's knowledge was true in light of the 'test' that he just went through. Along with the one immediately prior, one may perceive ignorance on the part of God because of a belief that an omniscient God ought to dictate. Why can't an omniscient God refrain from dictating, and simply relate in a way which intimately involves humanity?

    God knows the hearts of menGod tries men to find out what is in their heart