Free Will

• Genesis 1:1 (AMP)

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Mike Majors posed an interesting question on a particular scripture that mentioned if man has "free will." There are many that clearly imply the idea, but for sake of brevity, I allow Gen 4:2-7 as follows. 2 And again she bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto Jehovah.4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And Jehovah had respect unto Abel and to his offering:5 but unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.6 And Jehovah said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?7 If thou doest well, shall it not be lifted up? and if thou doest not well, sin coucheth at the door: and unto thee shall be its desire, but do thou rule over it.
Hence, they both had free will to offer as they considered best and, also, God mentioned to Cain in v.7 that it was his duty (or free will) to 'master' the sin that waited to ensnare him. In other words, God did not make robots that would follow a preplanned route, but allowed his creation to do as they saw fit, but, additionally, gave them guidelines that would make things easier on them if done His way.

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