Seeing All the Field — Series #2

Chokmah: Seeing What Others Miss

Motivational Theology — God moves with movers.

When Solomon—one of the wealthiest, wisest men who ever lived—talks about the race of life, he is not giving motivational slogans. He’s giving reality and revelation.

He writes:

“The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong… but time and chance happen to them all.”
(Ecclesiastes 9:11)

Solomon isn’t discouraging excellence—he’s exposing a truth we often forget:

Success in life is never based on ability alone.

Time and chance play a part.
God’s mystery fills the gaps.

The fastest don’t always win.
The strongest don’t always conquer.
The wisest don’t always prosper.
The most qualified don’t always rise.
The most likeable don’t always get chosen.

Why?
Because God sees the whole field, not just the obvious lanes we obsess over. This is chokmah—Hebrew wisdom—seeing what others miss, perceiving the invisible variables at play.

Look at the people God used:
    •    A drunk like Noah to restart humanity.
    •    A liar like Abraham to father faith.
    •    A prostitute like Rahab to position Israel for victory.

Human résumé? Weak.
Divine timing? Perfect.

As Paul explains, Godly success isn’t earned by human effort but shaped by God’s mercy, His sovereignty, His purpose (Romans 9:16, 22–23). Israel’s privilege wasn’t awarded—it was chosen, anchored in God’s promise (Deuteronomy 7:7).

We look at the fastest, strongest, smartest.
God looks at the humble, the available, the overlooked.

We see talent.
God sees timing.

We see effort.
God sees the entire field.

And to prove His point… Solomon ends the chapter with a story.

“There was a small city with few men in it. And a great king came against it… But there was found in it a poor wise man, and he delivered the city by his wisdom. Yet no one remembered that poor man.”
(Ecclesiastes 9:14–15)

If life were predictable, the city would have fallen.
If strength determined success, the great king would have won.
If ability guaranteed favor, the poor man would have been honored.

But time and chance stepped in.
God slipped a forgotten, unnoticed, uncelebrated old man into the right moment…
And wisdom—chokmah—saw what no one else saw.

**That’s the whole message of the chapter:

Life is bigger than strength, speed, talent, or pedigree.
God uses time and chance to elevate His choices.**

So expect the unexpected.
Honor the mystery.
Trust God’s timing.
Move with wisdom.
See the whole field.

And never forget:

“God is there—and He is not silent.”

Grace to you,
Cedric
Traditionalwriter@yahoo.com