Some time ago I purchased the book by Greg Boyd, "God of the Possible". His basic thesis is that God does not know everything about the future, and that opens up many possibilities for Him and us.I have to admit that I wasn't very 'open' to what he had to say but I am willing to listen to anyone who interacts with Scripture and Boyd does address a lot of pertinent passages. But I noticed in the scripture index that he never referred to Ephesians 1:11. This verse, in my opinion, is the most important verse in the entire Bible when discussing God's knowledge of the future.
The context of Ephesians 1:11 is God's plan for our "salvation" (v 13) and our "inheritance" (v 11) in Christ. As Paul is discussing this, he describes God as the One "...who works all things after the counsel of His will" (v 11). This is an all-encompassing statement about everything that happens or ever will happen, i.e., "all things". Paul is giving us two very important truths about this subject.
First of all, everything that happens in this world is according to "the counsel of His will." The word "counsel" is not just advice, it should be translated "plan". In other words, everything that happens is ultimately according to God's plan.
The second truth is that God "works all things" according to His plan. The word "works" does not mean that He directly causes everything that happens. That would make God the direct cause of evil and sin, which cannot be (see Matthew 5:48 and James 1:13). But God is ultimately in control of all things and He makes sure that all things work out exactly as He plans.
To say that God doesn't know everything about the future is false because He is the One planning the future and making sure that it happens exactly as He plans. Until someone can satisfactorily explain to me how Ephesians 1:11 fits with open theism, I have to reject it. What about you?
Some of what you are writing is touched on in studying theodicy - the church's attempt to reconcile God's sovereignty with man's free will. To contemplate personal suffering as part of God's plan for my life is a struggle, but there is joy to be found in knowing that the LORD is always there for me - even when the circumstances of this world are unpleasant.
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