So at twilight they set out for the camp of the Arameans. But when they came to the edge of the camp, no one was there! For the Lord had caused the Aramean Army to hear the clatter of speeding chariots and the galloping of horses and the sounds of a great army approaching. “The king of Israel has hired the Hittites and Egyptians to attack us!” they cried to one another. So they panicked and ran into the night, abandoning their tents, horses, donkeys, and everything else, as they fled for their lives.
—2 Kings 2:5-7 (NLT)
—2 Kings 2:5-7 (NLT)
The other day, I was talking to a friend who informed me that the usage of the word “coincidence” is less than five-hundred years old. We also know that most people, who consider themselves to be successful, usually say that, even if they worked hard, some elements of luck helped create their success. Throughout the Bible, history, and the testimonials of mankind, stories of “being in the right place at the right time” typically have one common factor to them. These stories of “luck” usually seemed to have happened for those who were already in action; creating the better future they were desiring to see.
The verses above are taken from a story of four leprous men who could have died waiting for some stroke of good fortune to happen for them. Their entire city had been experiencing a famine that could have caused them (and everyone in their city) to starve. These four men decided to create their own luck. The Bible quotes them as saying, “Why should we sit here waiting to die? We will starve if we stay here, but with the famine in the city, we will starve if we go back there. So we might as well go out and surrender to the Aramean Army. If they let us live, so much the better. But if they kill us, we would have died anyway.” These four men decided to take a risk or a chance, saying to themselves, “What’s the worse that can happen?”
The verses above are taken from a story of four leprous men who could have died waiting for some stroke of good fortune to happen for them. Their entire city had been experiencing a famine that could have caused them (and everyone in their city) to starve. These four men decided to create their own luck. The Bible quotes them as saying, “Why should we sit here waiting to die? We will starve if we stay here, but with the famine in the city, we will starve if we go back there. So we might as well go out and surrender to the Aramean Army. If they let us live, so much the better. But if they kill us, we would have died anyway.” These four men decided to take a risk or a chance, saying to themselves, “What’s the worse that can happen?”
What is to be understood is that every once in a while courageous people are ordained to rise up in a way that, not only benefits them but, also benefits their entire generation and/or the people around them. It was only when those four men took a risk to hopefully create a better fortune for themselves that events began to work in their favor. The Bible says that the Lord caused the army at the city gates to hear the loud sounds of chariots. They feared for their lives and ran away from their posts, allowing the four men the opportunity to enter the city and get some food. The story continues when the four men decided to go back to their own city and tell the gatekeepers there what had happened. With that news, their city’s army was able to plunder their enemy’s camp and finally attain enough food for the people of their own city.
All of this happened because four ostracized and dying men decided to take a stand for what they wanted and what they believed they deserved. We understand that some things are bigger than just you and me; even during times when it may not always seem like it. It may simply seem as though you are sometimes only standing up for yourself or fighting for what is fair for only you. However, in every generation, courageous people are only a representation of every person who suffers the same way as that courageous person. Imagine that an entire army of a city did not have the courage to plunder their enemies camp until four mere, weak, and sickly men plundered the city first and were able to report to their city officials that everything turned out just fine.
Maybe, you are destined to be an example to the fact that certain fates are indeed possible for yourself and the people around you. Truthfully, even if you may need to rely on some elements of serendipity and luck, you are still the one who needs to take the first steps in the direction towards what you are desiring to see. Some things that may have been labeled as culturally or societally impossible around you, may in fact be possible. Be the first person around you to make certain Things Happen. Be the example. If you have the courage to believe for better things and a better life, then take the risks that seem necessary to get you there. Believe that the steps you are taking are working out in your favor. Remember this story and definitely remember these four words: It’s bigger than you. Some things will only start happening when you as an individual begin to actively start making those things happen. Just be faithful to do your part and remember that God is quite capable and willing to take care of the rest.
Lots of Love, XO
