Question

Regarding the claim that one may expect from the Creator of the world what is sought as a derivative of what was created: if something is primary essentially and not chronologically, and it is the “substrate” of all being, and it validates that being, then it is not dependent on absolute values outside itself, the Cause of all causes with all that implies. If it acts in accordance with some value or desire and is motivated by them, then that motivating factor would be defined as the creator of everything, and He would only be the executing contractor. If so, God’s will is completely arbitrary. I am doubtful whether we can say that He willed to will, because then we would enter an infinite regress, but it is clear to me that the will is not independent and standing as a distinct value, but rather something not founded on “logic,” a system, and so on. If so, what difference does it make to me whether this is the will or that is the will? Perhaps His will is in being itself. And I can further say that a will dependent on some basic substrate is not something to be expected of God, since He is not dependent on the surrounding reality, because there is no such reality. If such a surrounding reality does exist—as with a human being, for example—then he requires the establishment of an infrastructure that will enable him to have some aim. But when we are speaking of the Creator of everything, why should we expect from Him a will dependent on some underlying basis? True, if He wills it that way we will not ask questions, but on the basis of reason, the matter is not valid. I would be glad for a response.