At a recent bible class, the subject of time and chance was raised. As discussion proceeded, it became increasingly evident that applying the idea of “chance” to our circumstances is entirely misleading.
Total supervision
All believers take comfort in the promise, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (I Cor. 10:13).
“Such as is common to man” accurately describes the problems in our lives: car accidents, minor illness, occasional serious sickness, financial difficulties, hostile situations, overwork, etc. And common to man, any one of these circumstances can flare into a major crisis or faith-threatening trial. A car accident may leave our child severely handicapped; an illness may develop complications which render us unable to work, changing our plans and totally altering the activities of family members.
Yet we do not live in fear of disaster because “God is faithful” and will not allow the situation to so spin out of control that our spirits are crushed by the burden. This does not mean that disasters never occur in our lives; some are needed for the development of faith, hope, forgiveness and longsuffering. It does mean our lives are supervised so that the trial is always one we can endure, especially since opportunity for relief, “a way of escape,” will always be provided. We know this will be done because “God is faithful.”
Living with such an assurance, is it accurate to say we are subject to “chance?”
A general theme
Similar assurance is given in the words, “All things work together for good to them that love God” (Rom. 8:28); and “no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby” (Heb. 12:11). These promises cannot be true unless there is continual supervision of the redeemed.
True, we must do our part in being properly exercised thereby. But the promise dictates the circumstances be controlled so they will work spiritual good given our right reaction.
Once articulated, the assurance is seen running throughout scripture. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob lived as pilgrims always susceptible to being attacked, but they survived because of the continual divine safeguard. Joseph is a classic example of relief coming in the midst of dire difficulty. God consistently provided Israel with escape in the wilderness from the Egyptian army, from thirst and hunger and from the Amalekites. (Unfortunately Israel did not believe “God is faithful” and was overwhelmed by the prospect of giants in the land. We must do our part!)
In David’s case, the confidence he learned is preserved for all time in the Psalms: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me…The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them…they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing” (Psa. 23:4; 34:7,10).
There is clearly something wrong with thinking “chance” is in operation in our lives in the context of such total divine oversight.
Using the concordance
When disharmony seems to exist between a specific word and a Bible principle, two things should be done: consult a concordance and examine the context.
The Hebrew translated “chance” is pega and is defined “occurrence” in Young’s Concordance and “impact” by Strong’s. Englishman’s Hebrew Concordance indicates the word only occurs in Ecclesiastes 9:11 (“time and chance happeneth to them all”) and I Kings 5:4 (“there is neither adversary nor evil occurrent”). Strong’s lists paga as the Hebrew root word for pega. Paga is used 45 times in the sense of “come in contact with” but without any sense of a “chance” occurrence (e.g. “the angels of God in him,” Gen. 32:1; “and he fell upon the priests,” I Sam. 22:18; “wondered that there was no intercessor,” Isa. 59:16).
There is nothing here to suggest circumstances unsupervised by God; i.e. nothing to suggest “chance” or mere capricious occurrences.
Considering the context
The verse in question reads:
“I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favor to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all” (Eccl. 9:11).
The point is clear: in this present era, there is no consistent correlation between ability and rewards.
Earlier the same point was made in regard to moral conduct:
“There is a vanity which is done upon the earth; that there be just men, unto whom it happeneth according to the work of the wicked; again, there be wicked men, to whom it happeneth according to the work of the righteous” (Eccl. 8:14).
The circumstances described by the preacher exist so all will realize “that the righteous, and the wise, and their works are in the hand of God: no man knoweth either love or hatred by all that is before them” (Eccl. 9:1). In other words, since there is now no consistent pattern of blessings to the good and punishment to the wicked, we cannot tell by observation how God regards each person.
What we see happening
We see the pattern working out in scripture and daily life. Both the righteous (Joseph) and the wicked are cast into prison; both the righteous (David) and the wicked must flee for their lives. Strong men may win the battle or be felled by treachery; men of skill may be highly regarded or may be scorned because of lowly family connections.
This is the time and “occurrence” the preacher observes. He is not talking about “chance” (happenstance, caprice) in our normal use of the word. There is, in fact, nothing here contradictory with God’s superintending of our lives. The preacher’s observations fit exactly with the comment by Paul that our trials are “common to man.” The great difference for servants of God is that our “God is faithful” and will always assure our trials will be such that, if we are properly exercised by them, they will work spiritual good in our lives.
An accompanying exhortation
There is exhortation in this study -to respond rightly to circumstances so they will be to our spiritual welfare.
But there is another consideration as well. If the Lord is always there for our welfare, He is also aware of all we do, say and think. With the comfort comes the caution of dealing with a God so good and so great.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One