Trees Trees in the Bible are a fascinating study.

They were used in symbolism many times by our Father to make a lesson clear that would, otherwise, have been difficult to put into words. God often used His nature to simplify His wisdom in analogies. One of the first parables put forth in the Bible was by one of Gideon's sons. It was a time when a judge was needed to succeed Gideon. He had 70 sons, one of which, Abimelech (who was of a "strange wife") murdered all of the others, except one. The surviving son, Jotham, was a true son of the house of Israel. Within this, God gave us a parable of a king appointed by a people who wanted to choose their own leader, without His help. Only our Father can appoint a true leader. Jotham spoke the following analogy about these people using trees. Its meaning is far reaching, however, and applies to men today as well. Judges 9:7-9 And when they told it to Jotham, he went and stood in the top of mount Gerizim, and lifted up his voice, and cried, and said unto them, "Hearken unto me, ye men of Shechem, that God may hearken unto you. The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive tree, 'Reign thou over us.' But the olive tree said unto them, 'Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honour God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?' The olive tree said, 'Do you think I want to leave all that God gave me? The place He put me, where my roots are and where I can produce fruit?' You see, he was serving his God-given purpose. Any time we fail this we are out of step with God and there are hard lessons to learn. The olive tree was too intelligent for them. Judges 9:10-11 And the trees said to the fig tree, 'Come thou, and reign over us.' But the fig tree said unto them, 'Should I forsake my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over the trees?' Again, the wisdom of knowing its purpose. What God had given to the fig tree was far greater than reigning over these fools who had left God out of their lives and decisions. The fruit of these trees were essential to man. I don't have the space to go into it, but you should do a little research so you know God's purpose in using these trees in this analogy. Judges 9:12-13 Then said the trees unto the vine, 'Come thou, and reign over us.' And the vine said unto them, 'Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?' Would you separate yourself from the natural order of things or the place and gifts God has given you for a position of power appointed by men? Would you trade your place in the kingdom, the fruit you are to produce, and your opportunity to be a blessing to God? The trees wanted no part of it. They were created to keep their roots in the soil and perform the bearing of fruit. This was their paramount priority. Judges 9:14 Then said all the trees unto the bramble, 'Come thou, and reign over us.' What is bramble good for? It's "fruit" is the thorn. It sticks man, hinders him and produces pain. It is connected with Satan and is used to show what men end up with when they appoint their own king. Judges 9:15 And the bramble said unto the trees, 'If in truth ye anoint me king over you, then come and put your trust in my shadow: and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon.' If someone other than God asks for your trust, you had better listen closely and understand what you are getting involved in. God has always used the cedars of Lebanon as symbols of His people and even Himself. What would you rather put your trust in? The shadow of a full evergreen that provides shade year round, day in and day out? Or a pricker bush that doesn't even cast a shadow, because it has no substance.

This same bramble formed the crown that men put on the King of kings at His crucifixion. It was even responsible for the first trickle of blood brought forth for you. You can now better understand the Parable of the Sower and why the seed that fell among the bramble is lost. Doomed to be choked out. God provides us with His wisdom in it's simplest form. In Genesis 3, God used the trees of the garden to symbolize life and death. God warned Adam and Eve if they partook of the tree of knowledge of good and evil they would die. We know the outcome, and because of it all men die. We also know that it wasn't a tree, but Satan, the devil, the dragon, the king of the brambles that was actually in that garden. What about the tree of life? It was truly our Lord, Jesus Christ. Why then did God place angelic beings with flaming swords by Him to prevent mankind from partaking of Him? Because it was not yet time. Hebrews 6:2-5 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this will we do, if God permit. For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, Very few people have ever tasted of that power. They don't have the slightest idea about heavenly powers. Hebrews 6:6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put Him to an open shame. It is blasphemy to teach salvation to a room full of saved people. People that have already accepted Christ. It is like saying that Christ is inadequate instead of the man that sinned. He mustn't be re-crucified for every little sin man continues in! He saved you. It is done. After you have accepted that it is up to you to come to repentance. Salvation needs no renewing other than repentance. Hebrews 6:7 For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessings from God: Another analogy, but still the same. Picture the land in the spring when things are dry and dead and a rain comes. The earth soaks it in and what a change. A renewal of life. God produces the very fruit of the crop that the farmer tills. If you already have a room full of saved people (likened to picked fruit gathered into a warehouse) you don't try to re-save them (harvest them again). Instead, it is time that they begin to produce fruit. It is not time to "play" church. Hebrews 6:8 But that which beareth thorns and briars is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned. The root of the word "burned" means "consumed". All that the bramble is good for is fueling a fire. It flares with sharp heat and then turns to ash. This is why the bramble cannot reign as king. Anti-Christ will never have the power. The outcome of the souls that follow the bramble is to be totally and completely consumed. Blotted out of the book of life as though they never existed. Gone. Burned as the thorn. It is written in Deuteronomy 21:22 that if a man commits a sin worthy of death, he shall be put to death on a tree. There was no sin in our Lord Jesus Christ. Only our sins. The ones we commit today and will commit tomorrow. The tree, the cross, He was nailed to become our tree of life the moment He was nailed to it. As He carried it up the hillside of Golgotha, He had the power at any time to call on legions of angels to protect Him. But, it was time. Luke 23:28-31 But Jesus turning unto them said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for Me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children. For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they will say, 'Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck.' Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, 'Fall on us;' and to the hills, 'Cover us.' For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?"

The "tree" was green. The sap still ran. In the veins of the flesh man, Jesus, the blood still flowed. But, in the time to come the tree would be dry. Christians stumble around in the bramble. They seek and yet never quite find. They see, yet never quite perceive. What things are happening now? A time that is spiritually drier than ever before? Do you remember when Jesus touched the man to heal him of his blindness? Jesus asked him, 'What do you see?' The man said, 'I see trees moving as men.' Just another parable? Well, perceive as you will. Nature is God's. Most creatures are able to understand the simplicity and wisdom of nature. God's wisdom is made easy enough that any man can understand, if he has a basic understanding of nature. When you understand the bramble and it's longing to be king, recognize it. Do not fall off to a false king. The price was already paid for you on the cross, a price that neither you, nor I could have paid. Don't let Satan tempt you, mature in God's Word! A time is coming soon when the cross will no longer be our symbol of the tree of life. You see, it is a shadow of what is to come. In Revelation 21, the brambles are totally consumed and their time is finished. Chapter 22 speaks to us. Revelation 22:1-2 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. Beloved, this is not a shadow. This is the real thing. The angelic guards (and a flaming sword) were placed to protect (keep/preserve) Christ, because it was not yet time for that price to be paid. When the appointed time came, they were removed and it was accomplished. At the appointed time after this world age we shall be with Him in the eternal life that the cross purchased. Beware of the words "trust me". We already have a King. Set your roots in His shadow. Let His strength protect you so that in your time you may be fruitful for Him.