i've never understood this question as framed. People use it as if it supports one side of the god argument and not the other.

it would seem that if spontaneous generation (something from nothing) is a problem, its just as big a problem for the believer who thinks that God arose out of nothing. If god gets around this hurtle by being eternal, I fail to understand why the view that the universe is eternal can't do the same.

What's more, the whole "ex nihlo nihil fit" premise seems questionable. Says who? Ever looked into quantum theory?

Regardless of whether you believe in an eternal god or an oscillating universe (bang-crunch-bang), or question the premise that nothing comes from nothing, the fact of the situation is that its outside our current understanding of reality.

You can either admit to that and explore the possibilities, or you can just assume its god. God, that miraculous figure who makes all unexplanable phenomena possible. His workload has probably lightened up considerably since Newton discovered gravity though...