a. God’s ways in the affairs of the world are perfect, being informed by His complete knowledge of all things "actual" and “possible.”
Jesus declares how detailed God’s knowledge is:
“Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered” (Matt 10:29-30).
God knows all things that are merely "possible," that might happen but do not actually come to pass.
In a remarkably detailed prophecy of the future conflicts between the Ptolemies and the Seleucids, the Lord includes these revelations:
“As for both kings, their hearts will be intent on evil, and they will speak lies to each other at the same table, but it will not succeed, for the end is still to come at the appointed time” (Daniel 11:27).
“At the appointed time he will return and come into the South, but this time it will not turn out the way it did before” (Daniel 11:29).
Jesus knew that Tyre and Sidon would have repented if Jesus' miracles had been done there (Matt 11:21).
In speaking of the tribulation to come, He says,
“Then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever shall. And unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved, but for the sake of the elect those days shall be cut short” (Matt 24:21-22).
b. God’s perfect knowledge of all things enables and requires His control and rule over all He has made. Because He is good, it is impossible for Him to know all without controlling all.
“The lot is cast into the lap,
But its every decision is from the Lord” (Prov 16:33).
“The Lord nullifies the counsel of the nations;
He frustrates the plans of the peoples.
The counsel of the Lord stands forever,
The plans of His heart from generation to generation” (Ps 33:10-11).
“From heaven the Lord looks down;
He sees all the sons of men.
From His dwelling place He gazes
On all the inhabitants of the earth,
He Who fashions the hearts of them all
And makes all their deeds understood.”
“The king is not saved by a mighty army;
A warrior is not delivered by great strength.
A horse is a false hope for victory;
And in its great strength it cannot deliver.”
“Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him,
On those who hope for His lovingkindness . . .” (Ps 33:13-18).
“The king’s heart is channels of water in the hand of the Lord;
He turns it wherever He wishes” (Prov 21:1).
“I, Yahweh, am the Maker of all things, . . .
Causing the omens of boasters to fail,
Making fools out of the diviners,
Causing wise men to draw back
And turning their knowledge into foolishness,
Confirming the word of His servant
And performing the purpose of His messengers” (Isa 44:24-26).
“Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. . . . Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth to Judea, be the city of David which is called Bethlehem . . . in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child. While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger” (Luke 2:1, 4-7).
“This Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death” (Acts 2:22-23).
“But we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory; the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood, for if they had understood it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory” (1 Cor 2:7-8).
“For God has put it is their hearts to execute His purpose by having a common purpose, and by giving their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God will be fulfilled” (Rev 17:17).
(Spotlight 4, Lesson 7 in Doctrine 101: Learning about God)