Op's post reminded me of the story of David in 1st Samuel 23
1Sa 23:1 Someone told David, "Look, the Philistines are fighting at Keilah and are plundering the threshing floors."
1Sa 23:2 David inquired of the LORD: "Shall I go and strike down these Philistines?" The LORD told David, "Go strike down the Philistines and deliver
Keilah."
1Sa 23:3 David's men told him, "Look, we're afraid here in Judah. How much then, if we go to Keilah against the Philistine army?"
1Sa 23:4 David inquired of the LORD again, and the LORD answered him: "Get up, go down to Keilah. I'll give the Philistines into your control."
1Sa 23:5 David and his men went to Keilah and fought the Philistines. He carried off their livestock and defeated them decisively, and so David
delivered the inhabitants of Keilah.
1Sa 23:6 Now when Ahimelech's son Abiathar had fled to David in Keilah, the ephod had come down with him.
1Sa 23:7 It was reported to Saul that David had come to Keilah, and Saul said, "The LORD has delivered him into my hand because he has shut himself
in by going into a town with double gates and bars."
1Sa 23:8 Saul summoned for battle all his forces to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men.
1Sa 23:9 David knew that Saul was devising evil plans against him, and so he told Abiathar the priest, "Bring the ephod."
1Sa 23:10 David said, "LORD God of Israel. Your servant has definitely heard that Saul intends to come to Keilah to destroy the town because of me.
1Sa 23:11 Will the people of Keilah hand me over to him? Will Saul come down just as your servant has heard? LORD God of Israel, please inform your
servant." The LORD said, "He will come down."
1Sa 23:12 Then David said, "Will the people of Keilah hand me over to Saul?" The LORD said, "They'll hand you over."
1Sa 23:13 David and his men, about 600 strong, got up and left Keilah. They moved around wherever they could go. Saul was advised that David had
escaped from Keilah, so he stopped the campaign. ISV
Now in this story we see David asking some specific questions and getting some specific answers as to what would happen or better yet what could
happen . "if", is a small word with many parts crucial to it's fulfilment . Free Will is the wild card .God told Johna that He would destroy NINEVEH
"if" they didn't repent . They did and so God didn't . But Nineveh was eventually destroyed by the Chaldeans and the Medes . Even a broken
clock can get the time correct .
edit on 16-9-2015 by the2ofusr1 because: (no reason given)