Incomprehensible Works of God (Ecc 11: 1- 5)

INCOMPREHENSIBLE WORKS OF GOD (Ecc 11: 1- 5):

After reflecting on experiences and exposures about many things, the author advises the men to follow some valuable things, realizing the incomprehensible and sovereign works of God. The author writes to cast the bread upon the waters for the person will find it after many days. Casing the bread upon waters may literally mean sowing the seeds in the well-enriched field, after plowing and filling the field with water. The immediate reward of sowing the seeds in the nourished field with water may not be explicit and it may even occur to be vain, but the reward could be found out after many days when the seed grows, multiplies, and gets ready for harvest.

The author then writes to give a portion to seven, or even to eight, for a person doesn’t know what disaster may happen on earth. It doesn’t mean to give to seven people or percentage, but as far as possible for a person. Accumulation of certain things is not valid as no one knows what may happen tomorrow. If a disaster occurs there would be no use of the materialistic things and no one could claim their portion. Therefore giving all things that are more than need would surely help someone in need and the world would become a peaceful place when everyone has the same mindset. Also, the author writes that if the clouds are full of rain, they empty themselves on the earth and if a tree falls to the south or to the north, in the place where the tree falls, there it will lie. As we observe the times when the clouds are full, they empty themselves by spontaneously falling as rain on the earth and on everyone, without any discriminations. If clouds accumulate itself with the water vapors continuously, there will be no purpose for which it exists, gathering the water vapors. The author also expresses that destiny cannot be altered, by comparing to a tree that had fallen on the better side or the lower side in the sight of people, as it will lie in the place where it had fallen. Likewise, everyone will face the destiny of death, leaving everything, whatever they earned, and however they were.

And the author writes that he who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap. A person who waits for a favorable time to go something productive will not be able to initiate it, as the seasons always change, though it may seem to be unfavorable at points, before making a decision to move forward. Also a person who trusts in something to happen and doesn’t do his work at right time will not be able to achieve the desired goal. The author then writes that as a person doesn’t know the way the spirit comes to the bones in the womb of a woman with child, so a person doesn’t know the work of God who makes everything. The way a child is conceived, grown and the thoughts or actions are incorporated is marvelous and indescribable by mere human explanations and notions, and many other magnificent works of God are inexplicable and amazing.

Stimulations for Self-Reflection:

1.    Where a person has to cast his bread? What does it mean?

2.    Why a person has to cast the bread upon the waters? How it will help?

3.    How our giving ought to be? Why?

4.    What does the clouds full of water droplets do? Why?

5.  What does the author mean by saying, ‘if a tree falls to the south or to the north, in the place where the tree falls, there it will lie’?

6.    Who doesn’t sow? Why?

7.    Who doesn’t reap? Why?

8.    What a person doesn’t know?

9.    What are the works of God? How we can understand it?

10. How we can utilize our resources and how our works could please God?