Count, Count, Weigh, Divide - Page 4
© Michael Martinez
Iluvatar apparently did little or nothing in the War of the Last Alliance. We know so little of the war that we cannot say anything conclusively, but Sauron was only temporarily defeated. The Last Alliance failed to act responsibly with the Ring, and it fell to the Valar to inspire Elves and Men to work together again. Responsibility for defeating Sauron thus escalated: first it passed from Elves to the Last Alliance, then to the Valar, and finally to Iluvatar.
But if Iluvatar took a direct hand in events to ensure that Sauron would not be victorious, did he truly do so without warning Sauron? Even Melkor was warned about the consequences of giving into his arrogance and pride when Iluvatar grew angry with Melkor's discord in the Ainulindale. And should Sauron have received any warning, or was his status as fallen angel an exclusionary badge? That is, would Iluvatar have a reason to warn Men but not rebellious Maiar?
Omens played an important part in the psychology of the ancient world. They relieved men of responsibility for the dreadful acts of which they were capable of performing. An ill omen which portended the doom of an army seldom if ever persuaded leaders to stop and think about making peace with their enemies. Instead, they either ignored the omens and went down into infamy (their chroniclers always seem to find good omens which portended victory for them if they won), or else they withdrew from the conflict for a time, waiting for a better omen which promised victory. But either way, the outcome of the conflict was really in the hands of the gods.
Throughout history men have found inventive ways to shift the burdens of their moral responsibilities onto others. If the sky turns red portending blood, blood, and more blood, then is it really the fault of the people who witness the event if they issue the orders that bring about the bloodshed? Of course, asking the purpose of omens inevitably leads to asking whether man has free will. If God knows what we are about to do is so horrible that he sends warnings in the sky, is he not shifting the responsibility back to the men who do the deeds? Or is he merely telling everyone else, "Look out, here it comes again?"
Free will, however, does not exist in God's despite. That is, if he gave us free will he need not struggle with the conequences of that gift. Instead, he can turn the consequences of our choices to his own ends. Not by taking away free will, but by "hardening the heart of the Pharaoh". If a man makes a choice and follows through on it, the resolve he shores himself up with may not be entirely his own. He has made his choice, but now he has become a tool in God's greater plan.
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