[michael_legna]

What we have to add to these considerations is the following issue:

If God knows we are going to choose Him (because of His infinite foreknowledge) and we thus have limited choices within the scope of our free will, does that imply (as it seems to) that the love we feel for Him is also not freely given? The point being is - does such a thing as unfree love exist? Does it make any sense at all to speak of loving someone (in this case God) if we have no choice in the matter?

This is a knotty subject and I have no simple answers but I believe we love or do not love God freely, and thus it means that each of us could or could not, in the end, choose God or reject Him and if that means He is surprised and that somehow our freewill has limited His infinite foreknowledge then so be it. Any other approach is just a sham relationship and no love exists within it.

To look at it another way - what a wonderful gift (if we see free will as a gift) for God to choose to limit His own power (by choosing not to know the end result). Additionally, what better way can one think of for God to feel the joy in our choosing Him than for it to be a surprise.