If God gave us the ability to exercise freewill then we would never have choose him. The verse you quoted in Joshua about choose this day whom you will serve is actually a choice between 2 false gods and is often misquoted as supporting man's freedom to choose God. Context, Context, Context, it is important. God is the only one who truely has freewill. He can do as he chooses. God doesn't deny anyone from coming to him, but he must enable them to come to him, he must draw them to himself otherwise nobody would ever come to him. That is what the bible says.
God has no hidden agenda. He chooses his elect, that is why they are called "God's elect". Because God is the one who choose them! Rom 8:33 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies.
