Snakes and ladders is a games which is played by children and patient adults all over the world. The game started in India and originally had more snakes than ladders. It must have been so difficult to reach the final square! When the game came to England, the Victorians levelled up the number of snakes and ladders.
Progress is decided by the throw of a dice. A six is not always desirable if if lands the player at the top of a snake, or a ‘one’ could be desired if it leads to the bottom of a ladder.
Sometimes it is said about our lives, they are controlled by the throw of a dice. Success or failure seems to be random. The wicked thrive and the good suffer. But the Psalmist urges us not to envy them. ‘Fret not yourself because of evil men, or be envious of those who do wrong. Psalm 37: God has it all in control. I read in the Bible ‘Our I know the plans I have for you, declared the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to warm you , plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11 So nothing random there.
Looking back on history we can see that sometimes good results come from bad beginnings and bad things happen after a good start. So it is today that wisdom is needed and human beings don’t have enough to be able to make the right decisions. They don’t know the end from the beginnings. Only God knows. We need to cry out for His wisdom.