Acacia aka Shittah

Acacia Tree. Cairo, Egypt 2014

Shittim Wood

Jehovah specified that acacia wood (shittah) be used to construct the Tabernacle, as well as certain items within it. He said, "they shall make an ark of shittim wood" and "staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold" and "thou shalt make a table of shittim wood" including boards, bars, pillars, the altar and its staves (Ex. 25: 10, 13, 23, 28; 26: 15, 26, 32; 27:6).  Shittim wood is impressively hard, durable and closely grained. Today, its orange-brown color is highly favored in cabinet work. The greek word for shittah tree means "not liable to rot," emphasizing the wood's enduring qualities. Shittim was also a location. As Joshua was leading the children of Israel, he "sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly" on the city of Jericho (Joshua 2:1). Later, "he rose early in the morning; and they removed from Shittim, and came to Jordan (Joshua 3:1). 

Lord of the Vineyard

Lord of the Vineyard

The scriptures are rich with stories, metaphors, and parables that refer to God as "Lord of the Vineyard," or "Master of the Vineyard." In the fifth chapter of Jacob, such references are used thirty-five times. Alma's conclusive statement "we see the great call of diligence of men to labor in the vineyard of the Lord" clearly identifies God as the vineyard's master (Alma 28:14). And, the Lord, himself said "I will bless all those who labor in my vineyard with a mighty blessing" (D&C 21:9). 
But, what is the symbolic meaning of the vineyard? Isaiah explained that "the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel" (Isaiah 5:7; 2 Nephi 15:7). Jacob said, "the things which this prophet Zenos spake,concerning the house of Israel...must surely come to pass" (Jacob 6:1).
Through the many verses about vineyards, we we see how God demonstrates his care and concern for his covenant people.  

God and Essential Oils

Pure Olive Oil #3573

     Throughout the ages, the Lord has insisted upon the finest quality items in his temples and ordinances. Oils are no exception. He instructed Moses, “Command the children of Israel, that they bring thee pure oil olive beaten for the light” of the tabernacle. He said “it shall be a statute for ever unto their generations on the behalf of the children of Israel” (Exodus 27:20,21).  Anciently, pure oil was also used or anointing, mixing with various offerings, medicines, burial preparations, cooking, cosmetics, soaps and perfumes. Oils were valuable commercial and trade products.  God has always known and understood the value of precious, essential oils.

Pistachio: Gifts for a Mighty Ruler

     Pistachio are drought-tolerant trees that grow up to 30 ft. The edible part is the seed, a nut encapsulated in an oblong shell that splits open as the seed ripens. Pistachio nuts have been valued since the earliest times. 
     When Jacob's sons encountered the mighty ruler, Joseph, they did not recognize him as their long, lost brother. But, Joseph knew them. He commanded that they return with their youngest brother, Benjamin, saying, "Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you" (Gen. 43:3). Jacob hoped to appease the powerful Egyptian ruler by telling his sons to take gifts "of the best fruits of the land...to carry down the man a present...myrrh, nuts (which botanists believe were pistachios) and almonds" (Gen. 43:11). 
     Later, when Joseph heard that his entire family was on their way to Egypt, he was so excited to see them that he "went up to meet Israel [Jacob] his father, to Goshen, and presented himself unto him: and he fell on his neck, and wept," for joy (Gen. 46:29).

Pistachio Nuts

      

Bitter Herbs

     When the Lord instructed the children of Israel to "eat the flesh [of the sacrificial lamb] that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat" the Passover meal as a token of obedience, he also explained its significance (Exodus 12:8). He said "this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the Lord throughout your generations," to commemorate the passing over of the destroying angel, when He delivered them from the Egyptians (Exodus 12:14; Numbers 9:11). 
     Because herbs are soft, perishable plants no remains have conclusively identified the bitter herbs they ate. However, native plants and the time period of the Passover provide a list of probable candidates. Among the contenders is chicory.
      Chicory is a common perennial herb with blue flowers. Some consider it a weed. It grows along roadsides, and thrives in poor soils. The roots were baked, then ground into drinks. When incised, chicory produces a milky substance. It is regarded as a treatment for worms and intestinal parasites (Web; Wiki, chicory).  

Chicory #1603

 
      

Small Beginnings, Exponential Growth

     Jesus gave a parable comparing the beginning of his kingdom to a tiny mustard seed. That individual seed was so small and common that it seemed to be worthless. Its minuscule proportions were even more exaggerated when it was sown in a field.  But, it grew.  In fact, it grew so large that Matthew recorded it became a tree (Matthew 13:31-32). Luke said "it grew, and waxed a great tree" (Luke 13:19). Its growth was so significant that birds could rest among its branches and find shelter beneath them. Like Jesus's mustard plant, his kingdom would experience exponential growth. It would become a powerful force. Wilford Woodruff prophesied, "it will fill the world" (TPC: Joseph Smith, 137). Today, we see those prophecies being fulfilled. The gospel of Jesus Christ is spreading across every corner of the earth.

Mustard Seed

Fig and First

•      Fig are the first plants mentioned by name in the Bible. After Adam and Eve ate fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, "the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons" (Gen. 3:7).  By this we know that fig trees grew in the Garden of Eden. A unique feature of fig is that their rich green, palm-shaped leaves emerge in late spring or early summer, well after its fruit is already maturing. 

Fig leaf. #7734. Taken in Jerusalem May 2014. (Gen. 3:7).

Jesus and a Mock Septer

     The Roman soldiers’ cruelty toward Jesus, included humiliation and torture. Matthew says they “put a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him.” Mark says “they smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and bowing their knees, worshipped him” in sarcastic mockery (Matthew 27:29 ; Mark 15:19). The reed was a derisive symbol of a royal scepter.

Matthew 27:29
 

Reach for the Son

Ever noticed how house plants become lopsided as they reach for the sunny window, needing to be rotated from time to time? This process of orienting themselves to sunlight is called phototropism. Like plants, the faithful reach for their true source of light, Jesus Christ. He said "I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life" (John 8:12).


Phototropism: Plants reaching for the sun

 

Perfect Love

The mock crown of thorns forced deep into Jesus’s scalp, signifies the most reprehensible reference to plants in holy writ. And, whomever fashioned those razor-sharp branches would certainly have experienced his own share of bloody encounters. Thick gloves would not have provided sufficient protection. Yet there was no vengeance in our Lord. Nephi said “They scourge him, and he suffereth it; and they smite him, and he suffereth it. Yea, and they spit upon him, and he suffereth it” (1 Nephi 19:9). Why did the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob yield himself into the hands of wicked men, and then turn around and pray for his tormentors? Nephi said, “because of his loving kindness” (9).  John taught, “God so loved the world, that he gave is only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). His love was perfect.  

God so loved the world...

Happy New Year Fireworks!

Pansies are not mentioned in scriptures. But, these bright little blossoms remind me of fireworks exploding on a starry night!

Remembering Jerusalem

As Christmas approaches, my thoughts return to Jerusalem. Israel and the Jewish nation will always be in my heart! Hoorah for Israel!!!

Flax is linen

Flax is the blue-flowered crop plant from which linen and oil is produced. Many scriptures refer to linen and fine-twined linen. John, the revelator said the Lord's church would be "arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints," suggesting images of saints in God's holy house.





Apple: Malus

"A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold" (Proverbs 25:11).     

     Translations and identification of the word apple in the bible evoke a number of questions. The Hebrew word is tappuah.  Some botanists insist that the actual fruit is an apricot, owing to the fact that apples are not native to the Holy Land, and apricot fits the criteria. For this reason, they also believe apple is not the forbiden fruit of Genesis. On the other hand, other scholars maintain that the references are, indeed the common apple. 

     In the bible, apples are the subject of love, the name of places, and of course, a fruit. Additionally, apples inspired the biblical expression, "apple of my eye," which has nothing to do with the fruit; it refers to the pupil of an eye. And, according to one author, apple trees thrive quite nicely in region.  

     Regardless of controversy, apples are commonly found in the Holy Land today. And, they remain a popular candidate for the forbidden fruit.

 

 

 

 

Sunflowers & Saints: Helianthus annuus

    

     In his April 2015 talk titled, “The Lord Is My Light,” elder Quentin L. Cook observed that lovely sunflowers often thrive in spite of very harsh circumstances. He also noted that the heads of young sunflowers track the sun throughout the day, a plant process known as heliotropism. As a play on words, he reminds saints that blessings come for those who follow The Son,  meaning The Son of God.  He said, “Like the young sunflower, when we follow the Savior of the world, the Son of God, we flourish and become glorious despite the many terrrible circumstances that surround us.” Difficulties can strengthen us and even become vehicles for blessings. Elder Cook said, “we can thrive and bloom if we are rooted in our love of the Savior and humbly follow His teachings” and we should “follow the Son of God as the young sunflower follows the sunshine,” keeping Jesus as our main focus (Conference talk by Quentin L. Cook, April 2015).

 

The Field is White already to Harvest

Wheat: Triticum aestivum L.
The symbolism of a ripe wheat field as it glistens in the summer sun, is likened to the world's readiness to recieve the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Lord promises to every saint who "thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in store that he perisheth not, but bringeth salvation to his soul" (D&C 4:4).

Photo taken July 2015

The Sin of Ingratitude

Ingratitude is a sin. In the Old Testament, the Lord literally provided the Israelites with everything they needed, including water, food and shelter, and He, personally guided them daily. Still, they whined like spoiled children saying, "Our soul is dried away; there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes...We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers and the melons" (Numbers 11:5-6). Their appetites became more important than their freedom.

 

The Blessing of Daily Bread

     Jehovah provided daily manna for the children of Israel to eat as they wandered in the desert. In the book of Exodus it says the manna was "like coriander (cilantro) seed, white; and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey" (Exodus 16:31).
      Sometimes we forget the blessing of daily food, and focus only on what we do not have.

     

God loves Mothers

In his October 2011 sermon to women, Dieter F. Uchtdorf reminds women, "Forget not that the Lord loves you." He illustrated the message by relaying the legend of the dainty blue flowers.  After God had named all the plants, and fearing their identity was overlooked, they cried, "Forget not us!" The Lord responded, "That is what you shall be called."
Forget not that the Lord loves mothers.  And, forget not to tell your mother that you love her.

He is Risen

Photo taken April 1, 2015
 

I thought I added this on April 2, 2015, but somehow it didn't post. 
     The Easter Lily, also known as Madonna Lily, has become a symbol of Christ's resurrection.
On the third day, "they came unto the sepulcher" where Jesus was buried, to bring "spices which they had prepared" but "they entered in and found not the body of the Lord Jesus . . . behold two men stood by them in shining garments . . . they said, Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but it risen" (Luke 24:1-6). Rejoice! The Lord is king! "He suffereth this that the resurrection might pass upon all men, that all might stand before him at the great and judgment day. And "he inviteth all men to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and he remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unto God" (2 Nephi 26:33).