In the scripture assigned for the International Sunday-school lesson we have read that: "Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year a hundredfold." (Genesis 26:12)
The Revised Version has "found" in the place of "received," and this is also in the margin of the Common Version. As indicated there, it is the exact rendering of the Hebrew. Isaac sowed, and found.
Now this suggests a great truth, which we may learn if we will think as we read. What does one do when he sows grain? He scatters the grain on the ground, does he not? He actually throws it away. And this is the meaning of the Hebrew word, to sow. It means, to scatter, as we might naturally expect. So we may read the text thus: "And Isaac scattered in that land, and found in the same year a hundredfold."
He scattered, and he found. Now we have the lesson clearly set forth before our eyes. "There is that scatters, and yet increases; and there is that withholds more than is meet, but it tends to poverty." (Proverbs 11:24)
"Cast your bread upon the waters; for you shall find it after many days;" (Ecclesiastes 11:1) and when you find it, you will find more than you cast away. Would it not then be the part of wisdom to scatter--sow--all that we have? Keep all the talents you have, whether of money, intellect, or strength, in constant use to God's glory, and they will increase. Withhold nothing, or you will lose it.
A man there was, though some did count him mad;
The more he cast away, the more he had.--Present Truth, August 22, 1901--Genesis 26:12.
E.J. Waggoner