New Year, New Provision
This week, Jan 28th, 2021, the Jewish nation will be observing BiShvat or New Year of the Trees. This is to recognize and give thanks for God’s provision for another year. The people eat the fruits of the area: pomegranates, olives, dates, almonds, grapes, and figs. It is during this time of year the trees begin to flower for the new crop. The date on the Jewish calendar is 15 Shevat, 5781
Why God?
Grateful. How often are we truly grateful for all God has provided? I wonder: I wonder why He loved us enough to cast us from the Garden? What would cause God the Father to send Jesus to die for the sins of a disobedient man and all his prodigy? How does He answer the prayers of millions every single day and keep His divine plan on track? Do you ever give thought to such unanswerable questions unless LOVE is the answer? The beginning of a New Year is a perfect time to give thanks for The Tree of Life and all its benefits.
Pearls
Kay Arthur teaches “inductive Bible study.” It is exhausting because it is WORK. However, it is worth the effort! The more you study in this way, the more you begin to notice patterns, repeated phrases, and themes that are woven through the Scriptures and tracing these threads is like discovering buried valuable artifacts, unearthing time capsules, and diving for sunken treasures. The Jews call these “pearls,” strung together into a magnificent work of beauty.
Tree of Life
In several verses scattered throughout Proverbs I noticed the phrase, tree of life. Our first encounter with the tree of life is found in Genesis 2:9 and our last encounter is Revelation 22:1-3, 13-14. Is this tree an actual tree or is it an analogy to help us understand or both. Proverbs 3:18 may be our best key.
The writer of Proverbs states, She (God’s Word/wisdom) is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her; and happy is every one that retaineth her. God’s Word is written, spoken, treasured, and passed on but it is also able to be held and secured for in Genesis 2:9 we read, And out of the ground the LORD God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil (this is the tree Adam and Eve were told to not eat from). So, we see this tree is both an actual tree and an analogy for God’s Word, His wisdom, the mind of God, and His life that is eternal. This is the tree that He protects from mankind until He makes all things new! (Genesis 3:22-24, Isaiah 43:18, Revelation 2:7, 21:1-8, 22:1-3,14)
According to Proverbs this tree of life provides peace that comes from heeding the wisdom of God (Proverbs 3:13-18); it brings about righteousness and wins souls to Christ (Proverbs 11:30). Hope is ours when our desire is the wisdom of God (Proverbs 13:12); and we can give life to others through our words (Proverbs 15:4).
Gratitude for The Tree
Gratitude is about thanking God for all the benefits of knowing THE tree of Life. Jesus hung on a tree to give us back our eternal life and fellowship with God. It is His peace, righteousness, hope, and life we receive when we trust Him as Savior and Lord. A tree stands guarded until Jesus makes ALL things new and those who trust Him will forever live with the physical reminder of an actual tree with its fruits, healing leaves, and sheltering shade. (Ezekiel 47:7, 12; Revelation 22:2)
I pray you know Jesus as the Tree of LIfe. He paid with His life on a tree He made for the sin incurred by eating from the tree of knowledge. It was knowledge we could have lived eternally without. Thank you Lord God of Salvation, Provision, and Healing.
This year may your thank you list begin and end with a grateful heart to God for His myriad of gifts. The horse is prepared for the day of battle, BUT deliverance is of the LORD. (Proverbs 21:31). Be still and know that I am God and I will be exalted in the nations. (Psalm 46:10)
Read for information ETZ CHA: Tree of Life by Messianic Rabbi Eric Walker ignitinganation.com
Yvonne Jones
Additional post from Freda Reynolds
