"Going" "in the Place Where the Tree Falls"

An intriguing six verses of Scripture can be found in Ecclesiastes 11:1-6. The reader knows that the words comprise an interesting message, but what is it? The passage begins with: "Cast your bread upon the waters, For you will find it after many days."

Mark Twain found this passage interesting, and he wrote in Huckleberry Finn concerning it:

And bread cast returns—which it don't & can't, less'n you heave it upstream—you cast your bread downstream once, & see. It can't stem the current; so it can't come back no more. But the widow she didn't know no better than to believe it, and it warn't my business to correct my betters. There's a heap of ignorance like that, around.

Perhaps the great American humorist failed to notice that the verse does not say stream or river, but waters. Some believe that Solomon is describing what happens along flooded areas, such as the Nile experiences during certain portions of the year. Isaiah 28:28 translates the same word used here as "bread corn" (KJV), "flour" (NKJ), or "bread grain" (other translations). The seed may be cast into the waters, and a rice plant will emerge at some later time. So, a possible literal fulfillment does exist.

Some think this verse refers to investing in foreign markets, and they make a pretty good case for it, but this passage seems to be figurative; the only question is: "What does the figure of speech represent?" Many possibilities exist, but in light of the second verse, it seems to be saying that each person should extend as many kindnesses in as many directions as possible. Somewhere down the road, they will bear fruit. Of course, God blesses such an individual, as Proverbs 3:9-10 shows:

Honor the Lord with your possessions, and the firstfruits of all your increase; So your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine (Pr. 3:9-10).

The word translated "bread," one commentator tells us, can refer to "possessions." One also remembers Jesus' parable of the unjust steward, who made friends by discounting his master's possessions so that he would be kindly received when he no longer had the job (Luke 16:1-13). He acted the way he did for that specific purpose—to receive help when he needed it. That does not appear to be the motive in Ecclesiastes 11:1. Good results accrue there for simply having done what is right. This same technique is used in trying to convert people to the truth of the gospel. One wants to spread the seed as broadly as possible, so that the opportunity for response is at its maximum. This principle could be applied in many ways.

"Give a serving to seven, and also to eight, For you do not know what evil will be on the earth" (Ecc. 11:2). At least one commentator, sticking with the financial theme, has opined that this verse means that an investor should diversify and not put all of his eggs in one basket. While that advice usually proves to be wise, such an interpretation does not exactly leap out from this verse. In keeping with verse one, it might be another admonition to be generous. No one knows what evil will befall a person. Although few could be as unfortunate as Job, human beings do face famines and war. The person who received your kindness today just might be the one who helps you in future troubles.

Clouds

At first, the next verse may not seem to be all that astute: "If the clouds are full of rain, They empty themselves upon the earth" (Ecc. 12:3a). Okay, no one will argue that point too vigorously, but what does it mean? It might be related to the evil that will be on the earth. It sometimes takes a while for the water to accumulate in a cloud before it begins to pour forth. Likewise, it may take some time in a marriage for wrongs to escalate before hostilities express themselves.

It may take time in society for conditions to become ripe before a problem erupts. But a time comes when practically everyone can see the storm clouds approaching and realizes they will empty themselves upon the earth. Such a time occurred with the American Revolution. England demanded more and more in the way of taxes, and the colonies were not allowed any representation with King George III. Add to that shots fired into a crowd and innocent people killed, and nearly everyone could see that a downpour was on its way.

Likewise, the Civil War that devastated this country did not just arise out of the blue. People were passionate on both sides; and the issue finally transcended a peaceful, diplomatic solution. For more than twenty years, the clouds gathered until they were so full of rain they could no longer hold back.

The Bible student can see the nimbus clouds begin to fill during the ministry of Jesus. On several occasions, the leaders of the Jews tried to kill Him (John 8:59, for example). They hated Him because He did not fit into their mold of what a Messiah should be; they hated Him because He outwitted them at every turn; they hated Him because He taught that He was God in the flesh. Eventually, the rain in the clouds unleashed itself—with the help of Judas. When they took Jesus captive, it began thundering and lightning. Nothing short of a direct intervention from God Himself or Jesus' refusal to submit to sinful men could have kept them from crucifying Him. The clouds were full, and they poured out upon the land unmercifully. Fortunately for us, the blood of Christ came forth, also.

Most of us have probably seen or been part of situations which escalated from disagreement status to one of major moment. Tension increased, and no one knew how to stop the forces of anger from being released. Many, like Creedence Clearwater Revival, have wondered, "Who'll Stop the Rain?" (#2, 1970). The answer is that no one can. Reason and logic have been used to prevent awful things from happening, but when they fail, the clouds will empty themselves. Most countries did not want another World War, but the doctrine of appeasement did not satisfy Hitler, and all were drenched by one of the worst thunderstorms in world history.

Trees

"And if a tree falls to the south or the north, In the place where the tree falls, there it shall lie" (Ecc. 11:3b). If any statement could be more obvious than the preceding one, this is it. But what is the significance? Of course, the philosophers want to know, "If the tree falls in the forest and no one was there, did it make a sound?" Of course it did. The only alternative is that the trees have colluded with each other to only make noise when humans are around.

Could this proverb be summarized by the saying, "What's done is done"? The wars were fought, and the casualties remain dead. David said of Saul and Jonathan, "How the mighty have fallen!" (2 Sam. 1:19). Even though David loved Jonathan as himself, he knew that the results of the battle could not be changed. Once actions occur, they cannot be undone.

In terms of our personal lives, we can apologize for something we said or did. We can regret what we did not do, also. But we cannot change what we have actually done. If a drought—or a flood—ruins the crops, nothing can change that. If a tornado or a hurricane destroys one's house, a family may choose to rebuild, but the damage done cannot be changed.

The Wind

On the other hand, we cannot always predict what will happen. "He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap" (Ecc. 11:4). Although some future events may be discernible months or years in advance, other indications may fool us—the most notable one being the weather. We think we know when a storm is coming, but how often have we heard thunder and seen lightning and never received any rain? "The wind is blowin' up a storm," we think, but nothing happens. Equally possible is a gentle breeze suddenly becoming fierce and taking us by surprise. The point is that, while we can see certain unstoppable things headed our way, at other times we just don't know what is going to happen. We may think we do, but we end up surprised. "Look at the wind. This would be a terrible time to sow seed." Once the decision is made, the wind shifts. "Oh, we can't reap the crops today; it's going to rain." But nothing happens, and we have lost a day of work.

One day, a brother and I went to play golf, feeling quite confident that we would not be rained out, since only a 0% chance of precipitation was forecast. 0%! We drove up to tee off at the ninth hole. It preposterously began to rain. Knowing the weather forecast, I expressed the dubious wisdom that it was probably just a stray cloud. It let up, and we teed off. About a hundred yards from shelter, a deluge began that left us soaked to the skin and wondering, "What good are weather forecasts?" If lightning had struck a tree, and it fell, 1) there it would lie, and 2) my golf ball would be underneath it.

Uncertainty

So, some things cannot be changed, and others cannot be successfully predicted. Some things (such as the immediate or long-range future) God has not given us to know. Ecclesiastes 11:5-6 reiterates this point:

As you do not know what is the way of the wind, Or how bones grow in the womb of her who is with child, So you do not know the works of God who makes all things.

In the morning sow your seed, and in the evening do not withhold your hand; For you do not know which will prosper, With this or that, Or whether both alike will be good.

Even though we have benefitted from hundreds of years of scientific and medical development, we still do not know what a day may bring forth (Pr. 27:1). For that reason, we should not boast about it (James 4:13-16). Life is filled with uncertainty—for individuals and nations. Babylon thought herself too well defended to be conquered. Who would think that any nation would have the temerity to attack the United States? But it happened at Pearl Harbor. Who would have thought that England, despite constant bombardment, could hold on to emerge victorious over Hitler?

In our personal lives, we have no guarantees, either. Jonathan thought he would serve alongside of David when he became king, but instead he lost his life to the Philistines. On occasion Paul made plans to travel somewhere but had to change them. The rich farmer said to himself, "Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry" (Luke 12:19). Things did not go quite as he had figured.

Both natural or supernatural forces can change our intentions. "A man's heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps" (Pr. 16:9). We are limited in our vision, but God is not. He may have something different in mind from what we had determined to do. Moses was content to be a shepherd, in which case few would have ever heard of him; God had another career for him in store. Saul of Tarsus was content to persecute Christians, but God knew it was a waste of his talent to let him continue in that way. We must be open to God's way of thinking. Changes in our lives may be for a purpose. We live in uncertainty, But Him Whom we serve is certain about all the things He does.