What does the Bible say about coincidence?

Answer  
  

The word *coincidence* is used only once in the New Testament, and it was by Jesus Himself in the [parable of the Good Samaritan](parable-Good-Samaritan.html). In Luke 10:31, Jesus said, “And by a coincidence a certain priest was going down in that way, and having seen him, he passed over on the opposite side.” The word *coincidence* is translated from the Greek word *synkyrian*, which is a combination of two words: *sun* and *kurios*. *Sun* means “together with,” and *kurious* means “supreme in authority.” So a biblical definition of *coincidence* would be “what occurs together by God’s providential arrangement of circumstances.”  
  

What appears to us as random chance is in fact overseen by a sovereign God who knows the number of hairs on every head (Luke 12:7\). Jesus said that not even a sparrow falls to the ground without our Father’s notice (Matthew 10:29\). In Isaiah 46:9–11, God states unequivocally that He is in charge of everything: “I am God, and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’ From the east I summon a bird of prey; from a far\-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose. What I have said, that I will bring about; what I have planned, that I will do.”  
  

When we consider life events, we tend to classify them as “important” or “unimportant.” Many people have no problem believing that God is in charge of the “big things” but assume that such a big God would not trouble Himself with the seemingly miniscule events of our everyday lives. However, that understanding is colored by our human limitations and not supported by Scripture. For God, there are no unimportant events. He does not need to conserve His strength because His power is limitless. His attention is never divided. If the Lord God tracks every sparrow (Matthew 10:29\), then nothing is too small for His attention. He is often referred to as the Almighty (Genesis 17:1; Exodus 6:3; Job 13:3\), a name denoting unrestricted power and absolute dominion.  
  

Citing coincidence is how we humans explain unexpected events and surprise meetings. But just because we are taken by surprise does not mean that God is. Scripture is clear that God allows sinful humans to make mistakes and reap the consequences of those mistakes, but only a sovereign God could also promise that He will make “all things work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28\). In ways known only to God, He takes even our mistakes and unplanned events and weaves them together to fulfill His purposes.  
  

In Old Testament times, God often used the [Urim and Thummin](urim-thummim.html), pieces of the high priest’s ephod, to help give guidance and instruction (Exodus 28:30; Leviticus 8:8; 1 Samuel 30:7–8\). In the New Testament, we see the apostles trusting God’s sovereignty when they cast lots to choose a new disciple to replace Judas (Acts 1:26\). Though each of these means of communication seems insignificant, God has shown throughout Scripture that He can use the smallest object or event for His purposes. God does not seem to allow for “coincidence.” The administration of the universe is not based on serendipity. The Bible says that God’s purposes will prevail and that He is in control of even the most random event (Proverbs 19:21\). Proverbs 16:33 says, “The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.” What may seem insignificant to us may be in fact a result of God’s omniscient power working on our behalf to accomplish His will in our lives.  
  

