The Tamarisk Tree

 "Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there he called on the name of the Lord, the Eternal God." Genesis 21:33

I came across this verse this morning and it caught my attention because I love when the Bible gives specific details. The writer could have just said Abraham planted a tree, but instead we're told the exact type of tree he planted. So, I had to learn more about this tree. 

 A tamarisk tree is known to thrive in very harsh environments, but it remains steadfast. It is a large tree, often reaching 20 feet tall with branches that are widespread. It provides shade that is much cooler than other trees, and since it is an evergreen, its protection isn't dependent on the season. During Biblical times the leaves and bark of this type of tree were often used for medicinal purposes. Its leaves also collect moisture in the air during the night, so when the sun beats down on the tree during the day, the droplets evaporate and produce a cooling system. The tree also produces edible seeds that can be ground into flour. The tamarisk tree grows very slowly. In fact, it only grows about one inch per year and takes approximately 400 years to be fully grown.

Genesis 21 tells us that Abraham had recently been blessed with a child in his old age, given a water supply for his people, and had just signed peace treaty at Beersheba. As was common in the Old Testament, the tree was symbolically planted to mark the covenant between the Everlasting God and Abraham's people.  Abraham's obedience in planting this tree also represented hope and expectation, knowing that this would benefit future generations.

When I dug a little deeper, I realized the Israelites, Abraham's descendants, traveled through Beersheba after being rescued from Egypt. As those weary people headed toward the Promised Land, they were probably in desperate need of all that the tamarisk tree provides. 

Those descendants traveled through that area approximately 400 years after Abraham planted the tree, which is exactly how long it takes for the tamarisk tree to reach maturity. 

Abraham probably knew he would never rest in the shade of the fully grown tree, but his obedience in planting those seeds would produce "fruit" that his descendants would reap for generations to come. 

We are all symbolically planting things in this life. The things we do, say, act on, or ignore, all have an impact on those who come after us, whether we realize it or not. There are many negative "trees" that we plant which impact future generations such as alcohol and drug abuse, sexual immorality, financial devastation, domestic violence, etc. There are also many good "trees" we can plant, such as teaching our children about Jesus, caring for and meeting the needs of others, being generous, sharing the gospel, being financially responsible, and loving those around us.

 God wanted Abraham to plant this specific type of tree for a reason, but in order for that to happen, Abraham had to listen to the Father and obey Him. When we are listening and obeying God, there's no telling what amazing things He might do through us for future generations. And even though we may not see the fruit of what we plant, it's still vital that we plant the seeds. 

What kind of "trees" are you planting today? Be encouraged, if we listen and obey, God will help us plant exactly the right types of trees!

Tori