Here’s a short assignment.
Do a study on the use of the word luck in the Bible.

Let me make it easy for you.
It isn’t in the Bible.

Most people like the idea of have “good luck,” a force at work making things go well.
Sometimes, though, it is “bad luck” that gets the blame for an undesirable turn in circumstances.
If only “luck” could be manipulated!

That is essentially what Israel tried to do in a battle with the Philistines.
They took the ark of God and treated it like a good luck charm.

After a defeat they decided to ” ‘bring the ark of the LORD’s covenant from Shiloh, so that it may go with us and save us from the hand of our enemies’ ” (1 Samuel 4:3).

At first, Israel was encouraged and the Philistines discouraged by this act.
When the Philistines heard the cheering from Israel’s camp they were afraid.
“We’re in trouble!” they said. “Woe to us! Who will deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods?” (v 7-8).

In the battle that followed, however-
Israel was defeated and the ark captured.

It didn’t go as planned because-
God is not a good luck charm, something to help make things go well for us.

How do you regard God?
Is your heart set on pleasing Him?
Or is your desire that He please you?

(PA)