When the Jewish pioneers returned to the Holy Land early in the twentieth century, they were met with several strange sights. Perhaps one of the saddest was the absence of trees and the presence of rocks. The former rulers had taxed every tree. We know now that the way to encourage growth in any area is to make it tax-exempt. Conversely, the way to discourage any activity is to tax it. So what did the owners do when their trees were taxed? They cut them down. This had several long-range results. Without roots to hold the soil, precious top-soil was washed away, exposing rocks. Gradually the weather changed, turning the fruitful land into a desert. One of the first acts of the chalutzim was to begin planting trees-and not just a few, but whole forests. Soon the rains returned until this year there is even danger of flooding in some areas.

With the obvious transformation brought about by the trees, it was natural to want to commemorate this blessing. The ancient minor holiday New Year for Trees was the logical place to start. In Talmudic times, the 15th of Shevat was the cut-off date for determining the age of your tree, for purposes of tithing and of eating.

Even before the Talmud, the Holy Scriptures often spoke of the practical and spiritual value of trees. The hundreds of references to trees in the Bible show how important they are to God. The first mention is in Gan Eden where the Creator gives the trees for food to mankind. Then we read about the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. What could have been so tempting about that tree, except that it was forbidden? It became the most important sight on the horizon. And soon Adam and Eve did what we all would have done in their place. They listened to the voice of the tempter, they gave in to the temptation; they disobeyed. As a result, they bequeathed to all their children those disobedient genes. Each of us has inherited them and developed them more fully to pass on to our descendants.

A tree brought judgment but also blessing. Centuries later, when the redeemed people were traveling through the wilderness on their way to the Promised Land, they went three days with no water. Then to their horror, when they found some, it was bitter. The Lord showed Moses a tree to cut down and cast into the water. Immediately it became not only potable, but sweet.

The writer of Psalm 1 uses a tree as an example of God's ideal character. Beside food, trees also serve us with shade, as building materials, and fuel. The Lord Jesus uses a fig tree as a symbol of the re-born nation of Israel in Matthew 24:32-35. (See also Joel 1:6-7). The story is told of several trees discussing their hopes for fame. But the last tree only wants to stand and point people to God. Each tree finds its hopes fulfilled in an unusual way. The final scene shows the last tree being carried up a hill outside of Jerusalem where it is planted with a Man hanging there between earth and heaven, bearing the punishment for all the sins ever committed from Adam to the present. The tree at last realizes it is indeed pointing men to God.

Transported from the Garden of Eden to the heavenly Jerusalem, the Tree of Life bears fruit for healing the nations in the concluding chapter of God's story of the Tree.

REFERENCES: Leviticus 19:23-25; Genesis 1:11-12, 29; chapter 3; Romans 5:12; Exodus 15:23-26; Job 40:21-22; II Kings 6:2; Matthew 3:10; I Peter 2:24; Genesis 2:9; Revelation 22:2.

© 2002, JGM