The third opinion is as follows: Duties of the Heart Pg 211. (after quoting pesukim on both sides) Still others decided to believe in both schools, that is, to believe in both divine justice and predetermination, claiming that whoever examines these matters too closely cannot escape sin and failure, no matter how he does it. They said, “The right way is to act in the belief that man’s actions are entrusted to him, so that he earns reward or punishment, and to try to do everything that may benefit us before G-d both in this world and the next. On the other hand, we should rely on Him with the submission of those who know that all actions, movements, benefits, and misfortunes lie under G-d’s rule and power and depend on His permission and decree, for He has the decisive argument against man, but man has no argument against his Creator.”This is the closest way to deliverance of all those mentioned above, for it is right and just that we admit our ignorance of this aspect of the Creator’s wisdom, because our minds are weak and our discrimination short. Indeed, there is some benefit in our ignorance; this is why it is hidden from us. Were it to our advantage to know this secret, the creator would have revealed it to us. (end quote)
In other words the best suggestion is to act as though we have total freedom of choice. At the same time you must realize that all, actions, movements, benefits, and misfortunes lie under G-d’s rule.
The above discussion barely scratches the surface of what has been discussed on this subject.
For the sake of “brevity,” I have NO choice but to finish now.
