George Washington Carver
Transformed the Economy of the South by Applying Biblical Truth
By Stephen McDowell
G eorge W . Carver was born into slavery just before the close of the Civil War . His mom was enslaved , but after emancipation , she stayed in Missouri with the family who had owned her . George and his mother were carried off from the Carver family by raiders when he was just a baby . Moses Carver offered forty acres and a horse ( since he had no cash ) to a man to find the mother and child . He brought back George but was unable to find the mother . George , therefore , grew up on the Carver farm but in relative poverty .
As a child , he loved the woods and plants and things related to botany . He was very observant of nature and always asked questions . He also enjoyed using his hands . At about age ten , he left the farm and worked his way through high school . As a young man , he worked hard and saved money to go to a certain college but was not allowed to attend . A couple helped him to go to an art school , but he found there were no jobs for an artist . He eventually was able to study his first love , agriculture .
After obtaining his university degree , Carver was invited by Booker T . Washington to teach at his newly formed Tuskegee Institute in Alabama . His work while there transformed the economy of the South and affected many nations as well .
Carver would rise every morning at 4:00 AM , read the Bible , and seek God concerning what He wanted him to do . Toward the end of his life , Carver remarked : “ The secret of my success ? It is simple . It is found in the Bible , ‘ In all thy ways acknowledge Him , and He shall direct thy paths .’” 1
One thing Carver sought God concerning was how to improve the economy of the southeastern part of the United States . Continual planting of cotton had depleted the soil , and the invasion of the boll weevil was destroying much of the cotton crop .
Biographer Rackham Holt wrote that “ he devoutly believed that a personal relationship with the Creator of all things was the only foundation for the abundant life . He had a little story in which he related his experience .”
“ I asked the Great Creator what the universe was made for .
‘ Ask for something more in keeping with that little mind of yours ,’ He replied . What was man made for ? ‘ Little man , you still want to know too much . Cut down the extent of your request and improve the intent .’
Then I told the Creator I wanted to know all about the peanut . He replied that my mind was too small to know all about the peanut , but He said He would give me a handful of peanuts . And God said , ‘ Behold , I have given you every herb bearing seed , which is upon the face of the earth . . . to you it shall be for meat . . . . I have given every green herb for meat : and it was so .’
I carried the peanuts into my laboratory , and the Creator told me to take them apart and resolve them into their elements . With such knowledge as I had of chemistry and physics , I set to work to take them apart . I separated the water , the fats , the oils , the gums , the resins , sugars , starches , pectoses , pentosans , amino acids . There ! I had the parts of the peanuts all spread out before me .” 2
Carver ’ s story teaches us the importance of preparation in fulfilling God ’ s plan for our lives . Carver had labored hard to develop his skills in chemistry . Consequently , God could answer the question he posed to him ; but God could not reveal the answer to this question to most people , either then or today , for they have not spent the time in study and preparation to acquire the scientific knowledge necessary to understand and act upon the answer . Diligent preparation is vital to understanding and fulfilling our calling . God may not answer many of our inquiries or lead us deeper into our providential purpose because we have not learned enough or been properly prepared to hear and understand what He may say . It is important to learn this lesson .
24 THE RENEWANATION REVIEW