A billboard advertising a casino used the slogan "A good clean place to get filthy rich." What are the odds of a person getting rich from a visit to a casino? More people walk away from a casino broke than rich. With the popularity of casinos, lotteries and other forms of gambling and betting, the idea of the odds fascinates many Americans. The odds are published for the racetrack and sporting events.
What do they mean? The idea of the odds suggests the probability or chance of a certain outcome occurring, but God doesn't work by the odds. He works against all odds. What were the odds that Abraham would have a son when he was 100 years old and his wife 90? What were the odds that Moses could convince Pharaoh to free the Israelite slaves? What were the odds that a virgin could have a child? What were the odds that a crucified man could come back to life? With God all things are possible, whatever the odds. (Daniel Pfaffe, The Family's Man. Concordia, 2001.)
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