Time and Chance of All, but Unknown (Ecc 9: 11, 12)

TIME AND CHANCE OF ALL, BUT UNKNOWN (Ecc 9: 11, 12):

After writing about enjoying life and the provisions of God, the author continues to write about how there are certain things that are beyond the being, of a person. The author writes that again he sees under the sun that 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 all. The swifter the person, there is a greater hope that the person wins the race but it is not the case always. There are things that are beyond the perception and anything could really happen at the last minute. The strong will be expected to win the battle but there are times the week wins. The wise could get what they need by their wisdom but sometimes even the wise suffer without an everyday meal. The more the intelligence, a person could easily gain riches through it but there are times that the intelligent people suffer without even a job, or being caught in some glitch. The knowledge of a person is admired, utilized by many and the person finds favor in the sight of others, but sometimes the knowledge is not grasped by others and he doesn’t get a favor. Everyone has everything open and they can take the chances and utilize it when it comes to them. God is all sovereign and He knew what needs to happen, keeping up His righteousness. God balances everything to sustain everything and acknowledge Him.

The author continues to write that the man does not know his time. Like fish that are taken in an evil net, and like the birds that are caught in a snare, so the children of man are snared at an evil time when it suddenly falls upon them. Every man knows that they have to face the destiny of death but no one is certain of when it will happen. Even no one could be absolutely sure of the next day or moment, anything can change any time. The author gives an analogy to that by mentioning an illustration of fish and birds. The fish doesn’t know when it will be caught in a net, otherwise, it would have not subjected. Also, a bird doesn’t know the snare of the hunter, otherwise, it would have not got across it. Likewise, humans don’t know what evil happens at what time. Seeking God, trusting Him, and living for Him will alone prepare man to face all the situations of life.

Stimulations for Self-Reflection:

1.    What does the author perceive under the sun?

2.    How the race is not to the swift? 

3.    How the battle is not to the strong?

4.    How the bread is not to the wise?

5.    How the riches are not to the intelligent?

6.    How the favor is not to those with knowledge?

7.    How the time and chance happen to all?

8.    What man doesn’t know? Why?

9.    Like what children of man are snared at an evil time? How and why?

10. How can we best utilize the time and chance?

11. How can we face the evil times?