And out of the ground the Lord God made to spring up every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. Genesis 2:9
Trees provide a beautiful setting but they also serve many useful benefits. They create shade, oxygen, shelter and food - just to name a few. God’s creation is magnificent.
In the Bible, trees are a blessing. When there are plenty, it is a sign of God’s goodness.
Then I will give you your rains in their season, and the land shall yield its increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit. Leviticus 26:4
But judgment is displayed through the destruction of the trees.
The vine dries up; the fig tree languishes. Pomegranate, palm, and apple, all the trees of the field are dried up, and gladness dries up from the children of man. Joel 1:12
And a tree is used to picture a right life.
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and whoever captures souls is wise. Proverbs 11:30
He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. Psalm 1:3
Planting a tree believes in the future. It is a symbol of hope. When planted, the gardener may not ever reap its full potential. Rather future generations will enjoy its benefits. We enjoy what our fathers have done and we plant for our children.
When I see a tree, I marvel at God’s creation. But it also reminds me to bless those who have gone before me. I benefit from others’ sacrifice that preserved God’s text; that built a community; that modeled faithfulness; that toiled tirelessly and gave generously; that provided ideas and opportunities to expand God’s kingdom. And maybe most importantly I’m reminded to ask myself what I am giving to the next generation. I want to cultivate resources – spiritually and physically – that others can use long after I’m gone. I want to be a planter of trees – Kingdom trees – that will yield their fruit for generations.
Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress; instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle; and it shall make a name for the Lord, an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off. Isaiah 55:13
