Grumpy Cat

I fail to see how you conclude that an open line of communication means "advocating removal of free will."

You do know the history of the Catholic Church right? But I digress...

He does educate us. It's called the Bible. If man could read it and believe it then life would be better. But we also have free will and that's a double edge sword. Man is corrupt and twists the Word thus we have Constantine the great but God used that as He can use all things. While the Catholic Church was corrupt it allowed the Word to be spread. Luckily there was a remnant of the believers.

Sin is in the world. We cannot change that but we can restore our relationship with God through Christ. While it doesn't make us sinless it teaches us to sin less.

How do you avoid concluding that Exodus 14:4 isn't entrapment or that Matthew 10:34-7 isn't a divide and rule cult tactic?

Simply put the story is Exodus is about restoring Gods people. To. Hold their faith again after so many years of oppression. Moses however did not use Gods voice as anything other than God. No money to be given. No glory given to Moses not only to God. "God says to go here so let us go here and believe in His instruction."

Matthew is not referring to a sword that we fight with but rather contrasting peace. Division. Believing in Christ will not be an easy road. Attacks will come from many directions.This I can speak of personally. When I became a Christian my mother flipped her lid. (A woman who claims to be a Christian). I just didn't believe in what she believed in.

Matthew 10:34 specifically says he doesn't come to bring peace, the opposite of your conclusion; and if God was concerned he could have avoided leading them into slavery in the first place or declined to "Harden Pharaoh's heart" so that he would have obeyed and let the people go.

Right. There is no contradiction. The sword is referring to division of people. Doesn't sound too peaceful.

The path of walking with God is not an easy one. Look at the Christians in the Middle East including Israel. They are persecuted. Christians in Asia. Same thing. Christian's in America have no Indra what it's like to face death for your belief.

So he didn't come to bring peace where everyone just tolerates everyone and we love in unity. There will never be that because for some reason Christ is always looked down upon.

It would be nice if God dictated our actions. But we have free will and therefore make choices and sometimes they're good sometimes not.

If only he could have hidden my eyes from a woman during my first marriage it might not have ended in such a nasty divorce.

But then again I wouldn't have been able to let God move me along a different path to find the one I truly love.

Luke 4:12

Did you read why he said that? To not put God to the test? Greek word for that is ekpeirazó; to tempt or try. Like a kid trying their parents patience. Satan told him to jump off a mountain and the angels would surely come save Him. Jesus then said don't put God to the test. There is a difference in that and verifying the Word. Asking what it means and searching for an answer is not a test. In fact a group of believers in Borea were commended for doing just that. Questioning the Word. Greek word used is anakrinó which means to question. They read it, heard it and searched Gods word for the meaning and answer.

Yet you are the one arguing against free will by insisting God make an intervention.