Bible Trees

The Almond Tree

As Autumn approaches  and the foliage of the trees begins to change colour, I thought that we could look at the ABC of trees mentioned in the Bible.

We start with the Almond Tree.  First a little bit of Arboriculture. The almond (Prunus dulcis) is a species of tree native to Iran and surrounding countries but widely cultivated elsewhere. The almond is also the name of the edible and widely cultivated seed of this tree.

Almonds are mentioned six times in the Scriptures and only in the Old Testament. The first reference is in Genesis 43:11 where Jacob, in an apparent attempt to curry favour with the ruler of Egypt, orders his sons to take some of the "best products of the land" including almonds. The best-known reference to the Aaron’s almond rod that budded (read the whole episode in Numbers 17). This is miraculous because the flowering, budding, and fruiting of the almond in nature are always separated in time.

The almond motif was also part of the divine design for the lamp stand in the tabernacle, where Moses was instructed to make the bowls of the lamp stand in the shape of the almond flower. 

The last reference to the almond is in Jeremiah 1:11. "The word of the Lord came to me: 'What do you see, Jeremiah?' 'I see the branch of an almond tree', I replied." The Hebrew word for almond sounds similar to that for watchful. Was God using the play on words to capture Jeremiah’s attention; to be watchful.

Paul in writing to the Colossians advocates watchfulness, “… continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving; and pray for us also, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison, that I may make it clear, as I ought to speak. Conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer every one.”

Prayer: Father, open my eyes and heart to understand that apart from You I can do nothing. You are the shepherd upon whom I can rely, to whom I can go in the hour of anguish and find the strength to do what You are calling me to do. Amen