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LESSON
12
*March 17-23
The Way of the Wind
SABBATH AFTERNOON
Read for This Weeks Study: Ecclesiastes 11.
Memory Text: As you do not know what is the way of the wind,
or how the bones grow in the womb of her who is with child, so you
do not know the works of God who makes all things (Ecclesiastes
11:5, NKJV).
T
he ancient Greeks believed in fate; your destiny was decided
beforehand by the gods, and that was it. This ideal was
expressed in Homers Iliad, when the great Trojan warrior
Hector says to his wife (who had been begging him not to go back to
battle, fearing that he would surely die), No man will hurl me down
to Death, against my fate. And fate? No man alive has escaped it, nei-
ther brave man nor coward.Iliad, trans. Robert Fagles (NewYork:
Penguin Books, 1990), p. 212.
Thats not, however, the biblical position. We are not objects of cold
fate; we have no predetermined destiny, except one: eternal life with
Jesus Christ (Eph. 1:1-11). Gods plan was for all of us to find salva-
tion in Jesus: Thats why Jesus death was for the whole world, with no
one left out.
That we all arent saved shows that our fate isnt sealed beforehand.
Our future is open. We have choices to make, choices that will deter-
mine our destiny. This week we look at more of Solomons wisdom
regarding the choices left us as free beings who are sometimes swept
up in events beyond our control. Maybe the events arent in our hands,
but our responses often are.
*Study this weeks lesson to prepare for Sabbath, March 24.
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SUNDAY March 18
Casting Your Bread
Ecclesiastes 11:1 has been speculated upon for many long centuries
now. What does the phrase Cast your bread upon the waters mean?
Various interpretations have been offered; the traditional one says that
this is dealing with the question of charity. He that hath a bountiful
eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor (Prov.
22:9). Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the
poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that
thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?
(Isa. 58:7). This makes a great deal of sense, especially considering
the importance the Old Testament puts on helping the poor and the
needy; it would seem strange, then, that a whole book dealing with
practical wisdom would not say something about such an important
teaching.
Read Deuteronomy 15:7-11. Whats the message in those texts and
how do they seem to be saying, in another way, the message of
Ecclesiastes 11:1?
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A lot of speculation has gone into Ecclesiastes 11:2, as well. What
are the meanings of the two numbers there? If we keep it in the immedi-
ate context of the verse before it, and assume that it is talking about
charity, the emphasis seems to be on being generous in what we give.
There is so much need and want out there; we all should do our share,
to whatever degree we can, for who knows what evil shall come. That
is, who knows what kind of trouble and suffering will arise; therefore,
we should be ready to help when the opportunity arises.
Whatever the exact meaning of these phrases, the principle certainly
is a Christian principle: that of giving of ourselves in order to help oth-
ers who might be suffering from the evil that is upon the earth.
According to the Bible, we are admonished to help others, especially
those who are in need.
Whats your attitude toward those who are needier than you?
How willing are you to share whatever you have, no matter how
meager, with those less fortunate?
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T E A C H E R S C O M M E N T S
I Have to Teach Tomorrow . . .
Key Text: Ecclesiastes 11:5
Teach the Class to:
Know: Everything we do affects someone.
Feel: The responsibility to be a positive, uplifting influence on those
around us.
Do: Reach out to someone this week with a touch that says, God loves
you and values you.
Lesson Outline:
I. Sowing and Reaping (Eccles. 11:1-6)

Pauls words, Whoever sows generously will also reap generously

(2 Cor. 9:6, NIV), have implications beyond the way that we manage the
resources we return to God for the spreading of the gospel. They also
reveal the universal truth revealed in Ecclesiastes 11:1: That which we
give to others in need will return to us when we are in need. Tell briefly
about a time you were blessed by someones generosity, and you were able
to bless someone else in return.

The primary application of Ecclesiastes 11:4, 6 is agricultural. Translate

it into modern terms and situations. How does the lesson apply to Chris-
tians as individuals? as congregations?
II. The Wheel of Life (Eccles. 11:7-9)

Read Ecclesiastes 11:7, 8. What is Solomons counsel regarding living

in the present?

Theres certainly nothing wrong with enjoying the pleasures that God
created. So then what does Solomon mean when he says to enjoy them,
but for all these things God will bring you to judgment (vs. 9, NIV)?
Summary: Like the physical laws that govern our existence (gravity, entropy, etc.),
our spiritual lives are governed by love, loyalty, generosity, justice, etc.
A
B
A
B
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MONDAY March 19
Clouds, Rainand Fate
There are about as many different interpretations of Ecclesiastes
11:3, 4 as there are interpreters. If we read it just for what it says,
Solomon is talking about the forces of nature: If a cloud gets full of
rain, it pours out on the earth; if a tree falls, then where it falls is where
it rests. Whats the point?
What is found in verse 4 that could help us better understand what
is going on in verse 3?
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Verse 3 is talking about rain; sometimes, too, in a rainstorm there is
wind, and sometimes that wind knocks over trees. All these are forces
much greater and stronger than human beings are. If we today are
often at the mercy of nature, how much more so back then? Solomons
point, then, could be about how we deal with events and things that,
like nature, are beyond our control. How do we respond? Do we just
stand there and watch, allowing ourselves to be dominated by them;
or do we, trusting in God and in His love for us, seek to be faithful to
our tasks and obligations despite things that we cannot control?
What are some things that we as human beings all face that are, indeed,
totally beyond our control?
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Though there are forces greater than us, nothing in this world is
greater than God, who upholds all things by His power (Heb. 1:3).
None of the forces you mentioned in your answer above were beyond
the power of God. Thus, regardless of events that overtake us, its so
important to remember that over and beyond them all is God, our
Creator, who loves and who cares about us. We are not left to blind
chance or to cold fate. Storms may come, the wind may blow, and
there seems to be little, if anything, we can do about these events.
What we can do, however, is remain faithful to God amid whatever
happens.
Read Matthew 6:25-34. What is Jesus saying here that fits in
with the lesson for today? More important, whats He saying
here that could give you hope to trust in Gods love and care for
you, regardless of your situation?
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T E A C H E R S C O M M E N T S
STEP 1Motivate!
Just for Teachers: Step 1 of the Natural Learning Cycle links the
learners experiences to the lesson. Help your class members answer
this question: Why is this lesson important to me?
Have you ever been traveling down the road when suddenly your car hit a
slippery patch and went into a spin? The next thing you knew, you were in
a ditch. Is this fate? Could you have made a different decision that would
have kept you on the road?
We frequently say such things as Such is life about occurrences that
happen for no apparent reason. But is it really fate?
The ancient Greeks believed in three goddesses of fate who controlled
human destiny. Today we think of fate as the power that predetermines
events.
Reflecting back on this week, is there anything that just happened to
you that seemed like fate? Encourage class members to share their experi-
ences.
STEP 2Explore!
Just for Teachers: This step of the Natural Learning Cycle presents
information learners can use to help them better understand the les-
son. Help your class members answer this question: What do I need to
know from Gods Word?
Bible Commentary
I. Invest in the Future (Eccles. 11:1, 2)
Ecclesiastes 11:1
To cast may mean a business venture, as in to ship your grain across
the sea, for after many days you may receive a return (margin, NIV). It
could also mean to be adventurous, to accept the risks and reap the ben-
efits, or to not always play it safe.
Solomon is talking about generosity being the path to blessing and
prosperity. He contrasts this to a stingy person (Prov. 11:24).
C O N T I N U E D
Learning Cycle
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TUESDAY March 20
The Way of the Wind
As you do not know what is the way of the wind, or how the
bones grow in the womb of her who is with child, so you do not
know the works of God who makes all things (Eccles. 11:5,
NKJV).
Considering the interpretation we gave to Ecclesiastes 11:3, 4, this
next verse fits right in. As human beings, we just dont know so many
things. Everythingfrom the way of the wind (that word for wind
is also the same word for Spirit, which could add a whole new
dimension to the meaning of the text) to some basic aspects of the
physical world, including our own development in the wombis
filled with awe and mystery. Even today, with all we know about the
growth of a fetus, there is still so much that is beyond our knowledge.
Here, then, is a point worth remembering: If so much about Gods
work in the physical world is far beyond our understanding, how much
more so His work of salvation and redemption? We can see in nature
the depths of Gods creative power and genius; the simplest things are
filled with mysteries that science cannot explain. Any wonder, then,
that there would be other aspects of Gods work of salvation that are
far beyond our understanding, as well? (See Rom. 11:33-36.)
Read Isaiah 55:6-13. What is the message there? What hope is found
in there for us? How does it relate to what weve read in
Ecclesiastes 11:5?
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And though Gods ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are not
our thoughts, we can know at least that His thoughts to us are
thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end (Jer.
29:11). And that expected end is eternal life in a new heaven and a
new earth, a life without suffering, Satan, loss, and death. Thats the
expected end, the promised end, the end that Jesus had in mind for
each of us when He died on the cross.
Make a list of the ways in which you have seen that Gods
thoughts toward you are, indeed, thoughts of peace and not of
evil. Take time to praise and thank Him for what He has done
for you.
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T E A C H E R S C O M M E N T S
Learning Cycle
C O N T I N U E D
Consider This: How do stingy people hurt themselves?
The word water, when used prophetically, symbolizes people. So
Ecclesiastes 11:1 implies the idea of charity to others.
Ecclesiastes 11:2
Give a portion possibly refers to diversifying investments to reduce risk.
Solomon could be advising to invest in a variety of business ventures,
because you never know which ventures may fail. A similar saying is
Dont put all your eggs in one basket.
If Solomon is speaking ethically, the meaning is to help as many as
possible.
The use of the numbers seven and eight indicates an indefinite number,
which would be more rather than less. To see other uses of a number
sequence, read Job 33:14, Psalm 62:11, Proverbs 30:15, Isaiah 17:6, and
Micah 5:5.
Consider This: Why does Solomon talk about disasters and not
being able to predict what the future holds?
II. The Might-Have-Beens (Eccles. 11:3-6)
Ecclesiastes 11:3
Nature operates according to laws. Logically, if a cloud fills with water, it
will rain. Solomon reminds us that we also operate on moral laws. For
example, a physical law would be that when a tree falls during a storm, we
cannot determine which direction it will go. We should realize that there
is a limit in what we can do.
Consider This: Why should we be mindful of Solomons counsel that
some things will just happen? Why do we need to make the best of lifes
situations?
Ecclesiastes 11:4
Farmers always have had to watch the weather to determine the best time
for planting, cultivating, and harvesting. Solomon cautions that if all we
do is watch and wait for everything to be perfect, we will never get any-
thing done. Again, he is telling us that we will have to take some risks in
life. We cannot know all the answers before we begin.
Ecclesiastes 11:5
The original word translated wind (NIV) in this text also is translated as
spirit in John 3:8.
C O N T I N U E D
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WEDNESDAY March 21
Light and Darkness
All through the Bible we see the image of light and darkness con-
trasted with each other, the idea of light being good and darkness
being bad.
Look up the following texts. What do we learn from them about the
contrast between light and darkness? Isa. 5:20, Luke 11:34, Acts
26:18, Rom. 13:12, Eph. 5:8, 1 Thess. 5:5, 1 Pet. 2:9, 1 John 1:5.
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Darkness isnt something in and of itself as much as it is the absence
of something, in this case light. If you stood in a totally dark room and
were asked What do you see? you would reply Nothing, or you
would say I see total darkness. They are the same thing.
With these thoughts in mind, read Ecclesiastes 11:7, 8. Whats the mes-
sage Solomon is giving here?
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God is the Giver of light, of truth, of goodness, of joy, and hope.
Darkness is the absence of these things, and in darkness come lies,
evil, suffering, and despair. Solomon is saying that whatever ways
God has blessed your life, there will always be days of darkness, days
of pain, of suffering and despair. No one escapes them. Perhaps his
message simply is, Dont get complacent. Things might be going well
today, but who knows what tomorrow will bring? Not that we should
worry but only that we should not take any of the blessings we get
from God for granted. We should be praising God and thanking God
from a grateful heart for all the good things we have, for who knows
what evil will arise?
In your own experience, what has made the difference between
your days of light and days of darkness? What caused the days
of darkness? What practical things can you do in order to help
yourself live better in the light that comes from God?
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T E A C H E R S C O M M E N T S
Learning Cycle
C O N T I N U E D
Consider This: If we were to substitute the word spirit in
Ecclesiastes 11:5, how might that change the meaning?
Solomon is amazed by the very beginning of life. (See what Job says in
Job 10:8-11 and what David says in Psalm 139:13-17.)
Look again at Ecclesiastes 7:13. The works of God refers to the way
Providence leads.
Ecclesiastes 11:6
Solomon is referring to farming in this text.
Consider This: We might read this as Dont be lazy. Get up and do
what needs to be done today. Why is this still good advice?
Solomon admonishes us that not knowing what the future holds is no
excuse for not doing the best we can with each day. God has given us the
privilege and ability to make choices.
We will not succeed by accident. We need to have a plan, and we need
to act on our plan. We must work from morning to evening to reach our
goals. Even though we dont know which of our projects will have the best
success, we cannot stop trying.
STEP 3Practice!
Just for Teachers: This step of the learning cycle will assist you in
helping your class members find the answer to the following question:
How can I practice the information I just learned?
Thought Questions:

What should we do when we find ourselves in situations beyond our

control?

Have you thought there was something more to life but wondered
what? Where did such thinking take you?

Do we ever watch the wind and clouds to wait for the perfect time?
Application Questions:

How do we answer questions about predestination? (Isa. 44:2). Its

clear that Jesus was destined to die for our sins. Could He have made a dif-
ferent decision?
C O N T I N U E D
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THURSDAY March 22
Days of Thy Youth
ReadEcclesiastes 11:9, 10. What is Solomon saying here? What kind
of tension, or contrast, do you see in these verses?
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Is God taking away with one hand what He offers to us with
another? Have a good time, but just remember that Gods going to
judge you for it in the end. Is that what this text is saying? An ancient
Rabbi, commenting on this verse, said its like a child being told You
might as well sin now, because you are going to be punished for every-
thing anyhow.
Of course, as the rabbi knew, thats not the point of the text. The
point, instead, seems to be that life is a gift from God, and because it
is from God, it is something good. We were created to enjoy our lives,
to enjoy our bodies, to enjoy the things that God made. In youth espe-
cially, when we have energy, power, ambition, and hope, we are to
enjoy ourselves.
But enjoyment is a relative word. We can enjoy ourselves through
the pleasures of sin for a season(Heb. 11:25), or we can enjoy our-
selves in the Lord; that is, we can enjoy the gifts that God has given
us in the way that He intends for us to enjoy them. So often young
people, so full of energy and passion, easily can be led astray to use
these gifts from God in a way that will bring ruin on them now (see
Proverbs 7), not to mention that one day they will have to answer to
God in judgment for their actions.
How does Ecclesiastes 11:10 help us keep what hes saying in verse 9
in perspective?
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Again, if we keep in mind all of Scripture, what Solomon is say-
ing is, enjoy the gifts that God has given you, but enjoy them as
blessings, not as sin and evil, and just remember to keep it all in
perspective, because one day your childhood and youth, even
your life itself, will be over, and then you will have to answer for
all that you have done.
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T E A C H E R S C O M M E N T S
Learning Cycle
C O N T I N U E D

Are we predestined for something? How would we know?

Witnessing
Consider This: Think about the choices you make each day. Spend
time reflecting on which of those choices make your life richer in joy
and a glory to God. How can you better reflect a relationship with
Christ by the choices you make each day?
STEP 4Apply!
Just for Teachers: In this fourth and final step of the Natural
Learning Cycle, you will want to encourage class members to make a
life response to the lesson. Help them answer this question: With
Gods help, what can I do with what I have learned from this lesson?
Have you ever heard anyone say, It was just fate or That was bound to
happen? Do you believe your future has already been chosen for you? If
so, then why should we worry about our decisions?
Consider this: As Christians, we believe we have the power to make
choices. What are some principles to consider when making choices?
Here are some suggestions to get your class started:
1. Do I base my decisions on Gods moral law? Refer to Exodus 20. As a
follower of Christ, my decisions will be in keeping with these laws.
2. Do I have personal devotions each day? Do I see the benefits of time
with God?
3. How will I make my decisions about physical exercise? Will I consider
what I need to do and adjust my schedule?
4. What about diet? How do I decide what I should put into my body? Do
I consider the health I would like to have?
5. Do I want to spend valuable time with those I love each day? Do I
schedule this time? What can be done differently to make life more enjoy-
able at home?
6. Do I volunteer my time, talents, and funds to help my church?
7. What do I do to help those in my community?
Challenge your class members to consider the many decisions they make
each day. Encourage them to give thought to what they are doing by habit
so that they can determine if they should change anything. Encourage
them to spend time prayerfully considering ways to improve their future.
Invite a class member to close with prayer.
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FRIDAY
March 23
Further Study: Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, vol. 1,
p. 272; vol. 6, pp. 271, 272; Welfare Ministry, pp. 178187.
Remember that you will never reach a higher standard than you
yourself set. Then set your mark high, and step by step, even though it
be by painful effort, by self-denial and sacrifice, ascend the whole
length of the ladder of progress. Let nothing hinder you. Fate has not
woven its meshes about any human being so firmly that he need
remain helpless and in uncertainty. Opposing circumstances should
create a firm determination to overcome them. The breaking down of
one barrier will give greater ability and courage to go forward. Press
with determination in the right direction, and circumstances will be
your helpers, not your hindrances.Ellen G. White, Christs Object
Lessons, pp. 331, 332.
Some men have no firmness of character. They are like a ball of
putty and can be pressed into any conceivable shape. They are of no
definite form and consistency, and are of no practical use in the world.
This weakness, indecision, and inefficiency must be overcome. There
is an indomitableness about true Christian character which cannot be
molded or subdued by adverse circumstances. Men must have moral
backbone, an integrity which cannot be flattered, bribed, or terri-
fied.Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 297.
Discussion Questions:
GWhat is your church doing to help those who are in dire need?
What more can you do to help?
GAs a class, talk about some events in your own community, or
even nation, that are out of your control, and yet that affect all of
you. How have you each responded to these events? How has the
church responded? What can you do to help others learn to cope
better with things that they cant control?
G George Bernard Shaw once quipped, Youth is wasted on the
young. What can you do as a class to help your young people, so
full of energy, vigor, and passion, to avoid making decisions that
will negatively impact them for the rest of their lives? What prac-
tical things can you do to help steer them in the right direction?
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