Ecclesiastes 9:11
I have seen something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favor to the learned; but time and chance happen to them all.
Time and chance are the great equalizers. They "happen to them all." I struggle to understand how God fits into this explanation of fairness. But like in the book of Job, we are reminded that God is the one with the plan. Is there even such a thing as "chance"? Although we want to know His ways and His reasoning, we cannot ever know these things. Does God let things happen or does He make things happen?
Holy Lord, this morning I end up more confused than when I started. Help me to better understand. Amen
Becky, transforming
Monday, July 3rd, 2023
Ecclesiastes 9:11
Again I saw that under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to those with knowledge, but time and chance happen to them all.
I am none of the above…. Swift-strong-wise or rich. None of these would help me to know God’s timing and try to figure out what is out of my control. Relying on these to make sense of my life will result in doubt and fear. Personal skills only last as long as life does. I so depend on your help in trusting you in these times of waiting. Remind…
Ecclesiastes 9:11 Solomon hammers the point home that at our human core we are all equal. I am reminded of the judge and the thief from Pastor Jen’s sermon on Sunday. We react negatively when who we perceive as bad gets ahead or when who we perceive as good (including ourselves) faces difficulty. These judgments are not ours to make, nor can we know the intricacies of God’s plan for each individual. Postmodern skeptics ridicule Christians for our acknowledged ignorance of all the mysteries of God, but acceptance of our place as created beings is an important step in repairing our relationship with our Creator, damaged at the Fall.
Prayer - Sovereign God, I understand You make the rain to fall…
Ecclesiates 9:11
Solomon wanted to share what he had learned, often the hard way, with his subjects and with us today. All his words boil down to, “remember, life is not fair.” And it’s often unexpected. He ends Ecclesiastes with “fear God and obey his commands for this is everyone’s duty. God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, good or bad”
Prayer: gracious God, thank you for Solomon’s wisdom and his desire that, even today, we should listen and obey. Amen