The book of Ecclesiastes in the Bible grapples with these very feelings. There's a verse in chapter 9, verse 11, that really gets to the heart of it: "I again saw 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 men of understanding, nor favor to men of skill; but time and chance happen to them all."
It's a powerful statement, isn't it? It flies in the face of what we're often told: that hard work always pays off, that the best person always wins. But the reality, as Ecclesiastes points out, is often far more complicated. So, what do we make of this?
Well, Kohelet Rabbah, a fascinating collection of rabbinic interpretations on Ecclesiastes, dives deep into this verse, using stories from the Hebrew Bible to illustrate its point. It's a beautiful exploration of how even the most righteous and capable individuals face unexpected reversals and challenges.
Take Jacob, for example. The Rabbah highlights how quickly fortunes can change. One day, as we read in Genesis, he's striding purposefully towards the land of the East, "lifting his feet" with vigor (Genesis 29:1). He even rolls a massive stone off a well, and Rabbi Yoḥanan compares his strength to removing a stopper from a flask! The next, he's old and frail, being carried on a litter by his sons as he dies (Genesis 49:33). He even has to ask his sons to buy him food (Genesis 43:2). Yesterday, he was rich and prosperous (Genesis 30:43), almost a microcosm of the World to Come, with God breaking the laws of nature to bless him, as Rabbi Simon teaches in the name of Rabbi Shimon, linking it to the verse in Micah 2:13, "The one who breaks through will have ascended before them." Today, Joseph is sustaining him (Genesis 47:12). Yesterday, he had insight, as he says "I know my son, I know" about Judah and Tamar and Reuben and Bilha (Genesis 48:19). Today, he's pleading with Joseph for a proper burial (Genesis 47:29). The Rabbah shows us how Jacob’s life embodies the verse, “the race is not to the swift…”.
Kohelet Rabbah doesn't stop there. It brings up Asael, known for his incredible speed (II Samuel 2:18) – so light on his feet that he could run over stalks without breaking them! Yet, he was ultimately killed by Avner (II Samuel 2:23). Then there's Avner himself, a mighty warrior, so strong that, according to Rabbi Asi in the name of Rabbi Yoḥanan, moving one of his legs was harder than moving a six-cubit-wide wall! Yet he met an ignominious end, tricked and murdered (II Samuel 3:33).
Even Solomon, the wisest of all men, doesn’t escape this pattern. Once, his daily provision was immense, with thirty kor of fine flour and sixty kor of flour (I Kings 5:2) – a kor being a biblical measure of dry volume. Each of his wives prepared meals for him, hoping he would dine with her (I Kings 5:3). But in the end, all he was left with was, according to some interpretations, just his bowl, his walking stick, or his belt (Ecclesiastes 2:10). This alludes to a midrash that Solomon was displaced from his throne and wandered as a commoner.
And what about Job, whose wealth was legendary (Job 1:3), and whose livestock "breached the boundaries of the world" (paratz in Hebrew), as Rabbi Yosei ben Rabbi Ḥanina puts it. Yet, he was reduced to begging for pity from his friends (Job 19:21).
The Rabbah even touches on Joshua, who even though Moses recognised his greatness (Numbers 11:29), Moses didn't accept his views on Eldad and Medad (Numbers 11:28-29), or during the incident of the Golden Calf (Exodus 32:17-18).
What does all this mean? Is life just random chaos? Is there no point in striving for excellence?
Not exactly. Kohelet Rabbah isn’t suggesting we give up. Instead, it offers a dose of humility and a reminder that we are not in complete control. It suggests that we need to accept the unexpected twists and turns of life. To appreciate the moments of success and resilience in the face of adversity. It’s a call to be present, to be grateful, and to recognize that even in the face of uncertainty, there is still meaning to be found. It’s a call to embrace the journey, even when the destination is unclear. Because sometimes, the greatest victories are not the ones we planned, but the ones we learn from along the way.