In Israel, disadvantages hold the secret to finding fortune.
Here are four common disadvantages converted into fortune every day.
Fortune is a destination, not a circumstance
Mistaking disadvantages as a destination is a shortcut to misery.
Even critters avoid that mistake.
“Four things are small on the earth, but they are exceedingly wise. The ants are not a strong folk, but they prepare their food in the summer. The badgers are not mighty folk, yet they make their houses in the rocks. The locusts have no king, yet all of them go out in ranks. The lizard you may grasp with the hands, yet it is in kings’ palaces.”
— Pr 30:24-27
Overcoming size mismatches for success is a theme seen over and over in the Bible.
- It never occurs to the ant that a size disadvantage is a reason to quit.
- It never occurs to the badger that he lacks a beaver’s skills.
- It never occurs to locusts that they have no charismatic leader.
- It never occurs to the lizard that he has no home.
Yet, these small critters find uncommon success relative to their size.
- Ants don’t measure work by hours, but by purpose and survival.
- Badgers don’t build homes from the ground up; instead, they find them already built.
- Locusts don’t rely on one charismatic leader, but conquer large fields with cooperation.
- Lizards know the key to success is to find a crack into your home, truly, a kings palace.
How Israel Turns Disadvantages Into Advantage
Look at Israel today. They duplicate the wise traits of small critters, but on a large scale.
Israel is a tiny Mediterranean country surrounded by hostile enemies.
Despite being threatened daily since 1948, Israel has continued to grow economically.
Israel’s Economic Edge
Today, the “Startup Nation,” a country of a little over 9 million people, has more than 130 companies listed on the Nasdaq.
China has around 200 listed on Nasdaq, but with over a billion more people behind it.
Many still picture Israel as war-torn.
But the reality is different.
Israel turns a size disadvantage into a strategic advantage like the small critters mentioned in their wisdom literature.
How does Israel do it?
Faith. Networks. Discipline. Resilience.
Faith in Israel Fuels Strength
Unlimited power from God is the strength found by the men and women who performed great feats in Israel’s history.
“Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”
— Jer 17:7-8
This power from faith is very fruitful.
Not your everyday networker
Losing momentum for success happens when vision turns inward.
Instead of hyper-competition, Israel has a networking vibe.
Folks move to Israel to start new and fresh.
They take risks, and they share a common bond to improve together.
The formula for turning disadvantages into fortune?
- Faith
- Networking
- Discipline
- Resilience
What success have you claimed despite the odds?
Stories like this are part of the reflections I write about life, resilience, and purpose explored on my About Stephen Blaising page.