Sorry for the piecemeal response but getting to your comments as best I can today.
On the above, the use of words such as inconsistencies and contradictions loom large. Both words are packed with pre-suppositional human understanding of either what we think God should be, or what we want God to be like.
I believe a much better approach to understanding the revelations of God (The Holy Scriptures) is to approach the difficulties we encounter as paradoxes. More specifically the definition of which would be:
a seemingly absurd or self-contradictory statement or proposition that when investigated or explained may prove to be well founded or true.
For example, we do see revealed that God will judge and punish transgressors of His Law. However, we do see also revealed
"grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." And that God is patient and longsuffering so that none would perish.
I think our human element of being the created being sometimes causes us to approach God's Holiness in a jaded manner. We look for ways to explain how an Aboriginal never contacted by a missionary can be saved; or we fathom that God is some 'big meanie' who creates some for destruction and some for righteousness. How does God reveal His Will towards His creation? He invites us to abundant life:
Isaiah 55: New King James Version (NKJV)
55 “Ho! Everyone who thirsts,
Come to the waters;
And you who have no money,
Come, buy and eat.
Yes, come, buy wine and milk
Without money and without price.
2 Why do you spend money for what is not bread,
And your wages for what does not satisfy?
Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good,
And let your soul delight itself in abundance.
3 Incline your ear, and come to Me.
Hear, and your soul shall live;
And I will make an everlasting covenant with you—
The sure mercies of David.
4 Indeed I have given him as a witness to the people,
A leader and commander for the people.
5 Surely you shall call a nation you do not know,
And nations who do not know you shall run to you,
Because of the Lord your God,
And the Holy One of Israel;
For He has glorified you.”
6 Seek the Lord while He may be found,
Call upon Him while He is near.
7 Let the wicked forsake his way,
And the unrighteous man his thoughts;
Let him return to the Lord,
And He will have mercy on him;
And to our God,
For He will abundantly pardon.
8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.
9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts.
10 “For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven,
And do not return there,
But water the earth,
And make it bring forth and bud,
That it may give seed to the sower
And bread to the eater,
11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth;
It shall not return to Me void,
But it shall accomplish what I please,
And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. (NKJV)
I understand Joe...you have a big heart and want everyone to get an equal shot. Everyone to have the knowledge we both have. Can't fault you for that as most of us think like that. We must trust God's ways and thoughts are way better than anything we can fathom. We must trust God is Just. We must trust God's judgment.
Frankly, that is what trust and faith is about. A trust and faith based on what is revealed from God.
Edit: Check this out:
http://www.epm.org/resources/2010/Mar/22/spurgeons-theology-embracing-biblical-paradox/
