George Washington Carver, the great black scientist, to many, was considered the world’s top authority on peanuts and sweet potatoes and their products. This world renowned agricultural chemist when all was said and done developed over 300 products from the peanut and over 100 from the sweet potato.
Carver, born in 1864 as a slave, attended college in the north but felt a calling to return to the south where he could help his people obtain economic prosperity through more productive farming. A humble Christian and great man of God he was awarded the Roosevelt medal in 1939 with the following citation: “To a scientist humbly seeking the guidance of God and a liberator to men of the white race as well as the black.”
As a Christian he never hesitated to share his faith in God and the Bible. In fact Carver attributed all of his fame and success and all of his abilities to God. Carver believed he could have faith both in God and science. He shared that his faith in Jesus, like so many other scientists before him, was the only way he could effectively pursue and perform the art of science.
People often ask can a scientist believe in the Bible? Carver is a classic example of a true scientist who not only could believe in the Scriptures but has. Genius, discovery, and the Bible have long been companions in the quest for knowledge.
In future devotions I will share how many other scientific pioneers of yesteryear were faithful believers in the Word of God.
Carver was careful to deflect all the praises he received from man back to God. In fact when asked how he was able to be such a great scientist stated:
“The secret of my success? It is simple. It is found in the Bible.”