Ecclesiastes 11:3-4 - We are Not in Control

Ecclesiastes 11:3-4
³ If the clouds are full, they pour out rain upon the earth; and whether a tree falls toward the south or toward the north, wherever the tree falls, there it lies. ⁴ He who watches the wind will not sow and he who looks at the clouds will not reap.

Message:  We are Not in Control

Time: The Book of Ecclesiastes does not directly identify its author. The conventional belief is that the author is indeed Solomon. The book was likely written towards the end of Solomon's reign, approximately 935 B.C. It is a book of perspective whereby the speaker reveals the depression that inevitably results from seeking happiness in worldly things. Most every form of worldly pleasure is explored by the Preacher, and none of it gives him a sense of meaning. He accepts that life is brief and ultimately worthless without God and advises the reader to focus on an eternal God instead of temporary pleasure.

What the Lord is Saying:
Unpredictable life occurrences
Verses 1 and 2 of chapter 11 spoke of serving and giving our all to serve. Now is the time and we are to give our best. Verse 2 ends with the phrase - for you do not know what misfortune may occur on the earth or we do not know what tomorrow brings. We may experience calamities and when we do our care-free way of life may be no longer, and we may be the ones on the other end needing to be rescued and hoping for acts of service toward us.

Thus, the end of verse 2 idea that we do not know what may occur on the earth bridges what is found in verse 3 and 4: there are fixed laws in this universe and man does not have the power to suspend them. Man is powerless over the weather. We do so much in this world, in our lives, to try and control our outcomes. While there is no problem being prepared, we still need to realize that God is in control. The rain and weather is a great example of this. If the clouds are full, they pour out rain upon the earth; and whether a tree falls toward the south or toward the north, wherever the tree falls, there it lies. 

From Westminster Confession 3 - Of God's Eternal Decree - I - God from all eternity, did, by the most wise and holy counsel of His own will, freely, and unchangeably ordain whatsoever comes to pass. 

Life is unpredictable. This is true. Jesus said in John 3:8 - The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes.

Weather disasters have become common place. I am not sure if God wills these disasters, in order to wipe out large amounts of people; yet, I think they should be a reminder that there is much in life that is not in our control. Two days occur a landslide occurred in China that wiped out villagers. Tornadoes and hurricanes can displace people and vanquish life. 10 years ago a bridge in Minneapolis collapsed during rush hour. We cannot foresee these dangers. They can happen at any time. We do not know where it comes from or where it goes. 

Yet, we are not idle
Yet, we are not to sit idly by since we know this truth, that we don't control outcomes. Verse 4 states -  He who watches the wind will not sow and he who looks at the clouds will not reap. The words from Joseph Benton are:

He who neglects the necessary works of sowing and reaping, because the weather is not exactly suitable to his desires, will lose his harvest. Whereby he intimates, that men will never do good here, which is expressed by sowing, and consequently not receive good hereafter, which is called reaping, if they be discouraged from it by every doubt and difficulty.

Yes, we understood and know that God is on the throne and in charge of outcomes, but in the meantime we continue to do our best, to work hard, to take precautions. We make the most of the harvest we have. We cannot secure ourselves from failure. Don't get deflated. Rough times will come, but continue to prepare and plan accordingly, yet trust God throughout.

Promise: The providence of God is the only foundation upon which we find confidence to act in this unpredictable world.

Prayer: Lord, I thank you for being in control. It is hard to see events in life and see situations occur, like the mudslide I read about in Columbia recently. We are so prone to wanting answers, but the reality is life is unpredictable, but we seek to trust you through all of life and we continue to safeguard our lives and our families the best we know how. Help those people experiencing loss and help people everywhere to follow you all their days and make wise choices, but not to lose faith and when bad things happen. You Lord are our God and we can trust You. Help us to not give up, but to keep striving. Forgive my doubt.