Bread Cast Upon the Water

“Cast thy bread upon the waters:

for thou shalt find it after many days.”

(Ecclesiastes 11:1)

This Scripture alludes to a method of sowing seed in many eastern countries ‘upon the waters,’ that is by the rivers’ side and on marshy ground, where waters cover the fertile ground. This planting method is confirmed in Isaiah 32:20. They sow it upon the water and, before sowing, while the earth is covered with water, the ground is trodden by oxen, horses, and asses, which go mid-leg deep.This is the way of preparing the ground for sowing.

However, more than Scripture being just about sowing and reaping in a physical sense, we must find here a type of the LORD Jesus Christ Who came in the flesh and laid down His life to pay the awful sin debt of that people that the Father gave Him. He Himself described His death as a Seed sown in the ground, that when it has died, brings forth much fruit, John 12:24.

Cast Thy Bread [Seed]: This, the Father Who is the Husbandman in sending His Son into the world, Who freely and willingly came to give His life freely and liberally that He might reap a harvest of sinners that the Father purposed should be saved.

Upon the Waters: The word ‘water’ is used in Scripture to symbolize the troublesome times in life that can and do come to human beings, especially God's children; Psalm 32:6; Psalm 69:1; Psalm 69:2; Psalm 69:14; Psalms 69:15; Isa. 43:2; Lam. 3:54. It is also a symbol of the watery grave of death, Romans 6:4. Certainly our LORD Jesus was cast into this world, not for a life of ease but trouble and death, as the sin-Bearer of God’s elect. He was truly a Man of Sorrows, acquainted with grief, Isaiah 53:3, not for any sin of His own but to bear away the sin of those the Father chose and gave Him to save from eternity. And yet, to accomplish this salvation it was necessary that He come, live, die and rise again on their behalf, to completely satisfy the Father’s law and justice.

For Thou Shalt Find It:Just as the farmer expects fruit as a result of sowing seed, so we know that the LORD Jesus did not die in vain. In fact, the way this Scripture is written indicates a 100% return on investment of the Seed sown. God the Father honored the Son in saving and justifying everyone for whom He died.

After many days: The return may be slow but it’s sure and always in its season. The LORD will draw to Himself every sinner for whom He paid the debt. Christ the Bread of Life declared: ^“For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing but should raise it up again at the last day.” (John 6:38-39)

hat soul can no longer remain idly by, knowing that the law and their sin condemn them. As one writer stated it, “The law terrifies him. Death stares him in the face. Judgment alarms him. He trembles to see hell moved from beneath to receive him. Now his fancied good works, his morality, etc. stand him in no stead. He hungers after righteousness.”