The term "hapless" refers to someone who is unfortunate or unlucky, often experiencing misfortune or adversity through no fault of their own. While the word "hapless" itself does not appear in the Bible, the concept is illustrated through various narratives and characters who endure hardship and suffering.

Job: The Archetype of the Hapless

One of the most prominent examples of a hapless figure in the Bible is Job. Described as "blameless and upright" (Job 1:1), Job experiences profound loss and suffering despite his righteousness. His livestock, servants, and children are taken from him in rapid succession, and he is afflicted with painful sores. Job's plight is not a result of his own actions but rather a test of his faith and integrity. Despite his misfortunes, Job remains steadfast in his faith, declaring, "Though He slays me, I will hope in Him" (Job 13:15).

Joseph: From Pit to Pinnacle

Joseph, the son of Jacob, also exemplifies the hapless individual. Sold into slavery by his jealous brothers, Joseph finds himself in Egypt, where he rises to a position of trust in Potiphar's house, only to be falsely accused and imprisoned. Despite these setbacks, Joseph's faithfulness to God leads to his eventual rise to power as the second-in-command in Egypt. Joseph's account demonstrates how God can use adversity for a greater purpose, as he later tells his brothers, "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good" (Genesis 50:20).

Ruth: Loyalty Amidst Loss

Ruth, a Moabite woman, faces her own series of misfortunes. After the death of her husband, she chooses to stay with her mother-in-law, Naomi, and return to Bethlehem. Ruth's loyalty and perseverance in the face of adversity are rewarded when she finds favor with Boaz, a kinsman-redeemer, and becomes part of the lineage of King David and ultimately Jesus Christ. Her account is a testament to God's providence and the blessings that can arise from steadfast faithfulness.

David: Pursued and Persecuted

King David, before ascending to the throne, experiences a period of haplessness as he is pursued by King Saul, who seeks to kill him out of jealousy. Despite being anointed as the future king of Israel, David spends years in hiding and on the run. During this time, he composes many of the Psalms, expressing his trust in God amidst his trials. David's reliance on God during his hapless circumstances is encapsulated in his words, "The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer" (Psalm 18:2).

The Apostles: Suffering for the Gospel

The apostles of Jesus Christ also faced hapless situations as they spread the Gospel. They endured persecution, imprisonment, and martyrdom, yet remained committed to their mission. The Apostle Paul, in particular, recounts his sufferings in 2 Corinthians 11:23-27, detailing beatings, shipwrecks, and other hardships. Despite these adversities, Paul maintains his faith, writing, "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength" (Philippians 4:13).

Conclusion

Throughout the Bible, the theme of haplessness is woven into the narratives of those who, despite facing significant adversity, remain faithful to God. These accounts serve as reminders of God's sovereignty and the hope that can be found in trusting Him, even in the most challenging circumstances.(a.) Without hap or luck; luckless; unfortunate; unlucky; unhappy; as, hapless youth; hapless maid.2489. chelekah -- hapless, unfortunate
... 2488, 2489. chelekah. 2490 . hapless, unfortunate. Transliteration: chelekah
Phonetic Spelling: (khay-lek-aw') Short Definition: unfortunate. ...
/hebrew/2489.htm - 6k

Introduction
... the free, spacious regions of the western hemisphere, of which it may be said, as
of the King's feast, "yet there is room," and where even a hapless waif may ...
//christianbookshelf.org/lowe/gods answers/introduction.htm

Preparations for the Invasion of Greece.
... the more terrible, it was believed to be the haunt of innumerable uncouth and misshapen
monsters of the sea, that lived by devouring the hapless seamen who ...
//christianbookshelf.org/abbott/xerxes/chapter iv preparations for the.htm

Questions and Answers--Sorrowful Cases--Testimonies from those who ...
... The change in appearance, from London's hapless poverty and degradation, to this
glorious clime," bright, rosy faces, full of laughter and fun, and yet ...
/.../lowe/gods answers/chapter ix questions and answerssorrowful.htm

Andromeda
... See, I embrace thy knees"soft knees, where no babe will be fondled" Swear to me
never to curse me, the hapless one, not in the death-pang.' Weeping she ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/andromeda and other poems/andromeda.htm

When travelling lately through the Simplon
... I was told, on inquiry, they were intended as shelters for any hapless travellers
who might be overtaken by the sudden storms which so often sweep down from ...
/.../the cities of refuge or the name of jesus/i when travelling lately through.htm

For State Reasons, the Various Orders of the Citizens Also are ...
... It only remains, that the Olympian Jupiter, and the Nemean Hercules, and the wretched
little Archemorus, and the hapless Antinous, should be crowned in a ...
/.../tertullian/the chaplet or de corona/chapter xiii for state reasons.htm

A Selection from the Notices of Mr. Robertson's Sermons, and of ...
... BY THE REV. STOPFORD A. BROOKE, MA. [BLACKWOOD'S MAGAZINE, August, 1862.] "For while
hapless Englishmen complain in the papers, and in private, in many a varied ...
/.../robertson/sermons preached at brighton/a selection from the notices.htm

Note by the American Editor.
... Who can wonder that fire and sword and ravening wolves predisposed men and women
to avoid the domestic life, and the bringing of hapless families into ...
/.../peter/the writings of peter of alexandria/note by the american editor.htm

Seeing, Then, Man's Own Reflections, Even in Spite of the ...
... then, man's own reflections, even in spite of the sweetness of pleasure, lead him
to think that people such as these should be condemned to a hapless lot of ...
/.../tertullian/the shows or de spectaculis/chapter xxiii seeing then mans.htm

The Tears of Christ.
... Men burn sacrifices to Baal and Ashtaroth, and the Valley of Hinnom echoes with
the cries of hapless children offered to Moloch, the hideous idol of the ...
/.../the life of duty a years plain sermons v 2/sermon xlv the tears of.htm

Hapless (3 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (a.) Without hap or luck; luckless; unfortunate; unlucky;
unhappy; as, hapless youth; hapless maid. ...Hapless (3 Occurrences). ...
/h/hapless.htm - 7k

Haply (26 Occurrences)

/h/haply.htm - 17k

Menelaus
... Menelaus bribed Ptolemy, son of Dorymenes, to win over the king to acquit himself
and secure the execution of "those hapless men, who, if they had pleaded even ...
/m/menelaus.htm - 9k

Haphraim (1 Occurrence)

/h/haphraim.htm - 6k

Jehoiachin (20 Occurrences)
... As for the hapless king, "this man Coniah," who is to be their captive chief in
a strange land, Jeremiah speaks of him in a strain in which the stern sense of ...
/j/jehoiachin.htm - 19k

Burial (25 Occurrences)
... At the hands of strangers, hapless one, thou hast had those rites, and so art come
to us, a little dust in a narrow urn." 3. Contrasts between Jewish Customs ...
/b/burial.htm - 42k

Poor (276 Occurrences)
... 5, 8; 7:32; 10:23 (ptochos)); "poor" in the sense of pitiable occurs in 2 Maccabees
4:47 (talaiporos), the Revised Version (British and American) "hapless." IV ...
/p/poor.htm - 60k

Old (3966 Occurrences)
... evolution as if the man had maintained obedience; but there was in it the rupture
of his spirit's union with its personal Source; and the hapless committal to ...
/o/old.htm - 101k

Testament (13 Occurrences)
... evolution as if the man had maintained obedience; but there was in it the rupture
of his spirit's union with its personal Source; and the hapless committal to ...
/t/testament.htm - 101k

Adam (29 Occurrences)
... evolution as if the man had maintained obedience; but there was in it the rupture
of his spirit's union with its personal Source; and the hapless committal to ...
/a/adam.htm - 63k

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Hapless: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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