Two weeks ago, I wrote an article on the broom tree and talked about how it fit into several Bible stories. Being in the tree business, I naturally wanted to carry this theme as far as I could.
Another tree that has some wonderful Biblical metaphors attached to it is the Acacia. This is the tree described in Psalm 1 and Jeremiah 17. The Acacia is a pretty prominent landmark in the desert. They are by far the biggest tree or plant that grows in the desert. Slow-growing and long-lived, it is said that God planted them knowing that we would need shade.
The Acacia is the Bedouin’s best friend because it does so much for him. Besides providing the best shade in the desert, it also is the best and really only firewood.
The camels love to eat its leaves, and also eat its pods that grow seasonally. The Bedouins boil the pods for the camels to eat. Also, they boil the sap and it is used for both camels and people as a medicine for stomach trouble and cuts and scrapes. The Acacia is also used by the Bedouin to locate a water source, because where there is a good Acacia growing there must be some underground source of water. This is also the tree that the Ark of the Covenant was made of. As you can imagine, the metaphors are huge.
This Psalm 1 tree is a picture of someone deeply rooted in something that provides all sorts of things for people; food, shelter, shade, water, medicine. How do we become that tree? Psalm 1 has the answer, we must be in the word and meditate (“Hagah”, remember? wrestle, growl,chew) on it day and night. You can’t skip the hard work that called you to be an Acacia, and it takes some time to grow. The words are literally to always be in our mouth — we are chewing on them. When you are a good Acacia tree you are literally your community’s best friend, you do all kinds of things that bless others. You dig in and do the hard work, and then when the time comes you help out.
An interesting phenomenon with an Acacia is that almost never do you see any water around the tree, yet you know it is getting water, because of its leaves and fruit. You know there is water there because of the tree. If God is living water and we are the tree, they will know we are getting living water by the fruit we produce. It’s how much water that we get that determines how well we do in the desert.
Obviously, we need more Acacia trees. Are you willing to do the work to become one?
About the author:
Bob is the creator of this site and a disciple of Ray Vander Laan. Along with his wife of 50 years, he teaches a Bible study at Christ’s Church in Roswell, NM. He is also an avid hunter and fisher.
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Do you or any one send me a picture of the broom tree that was mentioned in 1 Kings chapter 19 under which the prophet elijah came to lie down in it’s shade and ask God to take his life.
NT: See these archived articles from Februrary:
Shade: Biblical Imagery & the Broom Tree [http://www.acts242study.com/?p=136]
Shade II [http://www.acts242study.com/?p=152]
I had never thought of this metaphor before and thought it beautiful to consider that the Ark of the Covenant is made from the Acacia tree.
Hi I love your blog and have been reading it with enthusiasm.
I found this blog article about the acacia tree as the possible crown of thorns on Christ’s head. Check it out, it’s really interesting. God bless,
– ben
http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/am/v4/n3/splendor-thorns
Acacia, The tree of resurrection, is deeply saturated and molded by the light of creation. Thank you for recognizing many of the sacred qualities of Acacia and teaching others to understand its nature 🙏
I’m giving a teaching on the biblical imagery of trees and came across your blog. I was a few articles in before I realized where I recognized your name from. I love that God is using the faith community of Roswell so powerfully! Thank you for the great information and blessings from Washington state!
Thank you for recognizing many of the sacred qualities of Acacia and teaching others to understand 🙏
Do Acacia trees bloom and if they do what time of year?
In the middle of Australia we have a place called Wataraka National Park near Kings Canyon. And in it is a place the freemason first settlers have named as the garden of Eden, and its filled with acacia trees.
Interesting that it’s in the middle of the “garden” of Australia. When I found out about it I was very concerned because a family member had told me they’d tried DMT which is an entheogen and psychoactive hallucinogenic made from acacia root bark? I think. Another interesting thing is that Indigenous Australians believe in DreaMTime as part of their creation story that involves the rainbow serpent And others around the world use DMT and ayahuasca to supposedly communicate with their “ancestors”. The horrific thing about this is that many people who take this in such a way (if they survive) literally believe they are talking to angels or aliens…but infact they are demonic entities…and DMT is thought to play a part in schizophrenia. Sadly the occult believe that this is a form of enlightenment and yet the word schizophrenia I am sure etymologically must have something to do with the great schism.. I think this is meaning to separate? Isn’t this referred to as separation of church and state? And the tree in the middle of the garden of Eden that lead to the fall was what caused separation from God.
I came across your article while researching acacia trees and the Sinai peninsula.
I’ve always known that acacia wood was used for the tabernacle and liked sharing this fact with people; however, as I was reading from Exodus just now as part of my daily scripture study, I decided to go deeper and my internet search brought me your article. Acacia trees are even more biblically and religiously significant than I even knew, which makes me feel REALLY special. Because, you see, Acacia is actually my name!!!
Thank you for bringing joy and inspiration to my day. I’m going to live like an acacia, showing my faith through acts, deeds and words.
-Acacia R. Idaho, USA