God Is In The Details
Almonds are good. They are tasty little things and actually good for you. Lots of calcium. Good fat in them too. They’re not nuts though. Technically, they are in the peach family. Weird. I thought only tomatoes had an identity crisis. Nonetheless, almonds grow all over the place – mostly in California, but a lot in Spain too. Thanks Wikipedia. They also grow in Israel.
God (Jehovah, The LORD – it’s good to clarify these things) gave instructions to Moses on Mount Sinai for a tabernacle to be constructed in order for the LORD to dwell with his people. It was elaborate. It took craftsman of all kinds to put it together: weavers and metalworkers mostly. The metalworkers used silver, brass, bronze and gold. One particular furnishing in the tabernacle were golden lamp-stands. God told Moses to make the bowls on the lamps to resemble almond blossoms. Why almond blossoms? They look nice, I’m sure. God never tells Moses why, just that He wants them to look that way. Maybe it was obvious to Moses. It sure wasn’t to me.
So I went looking for more information about almonds. Here is what I found: Almonds grow on trees, and these trees are the first to blossom – of ALL trees. They are in bloom as early as January. That is why God wanted them to adorn the place where he was going to make his presence known. You see, God making a dwelling place here on earth simply pre-figures Jesus. The tabernacle and the temple in the Old Testament are all about Jesus Christ. This aspect of it shows us that Jesus is the first to bloom. He is actually called the “firstfruits” of the new creation God is making. We will follow in the likeness of His resurrection.
When some of the Israelites complained against Moses and Aaron, one of the things God did was to have all of the leaders in the various families to bring their rods to the tabernacle. Aaron’s was brought as well. The test was that whichever rod blossomed was God’s choice of a mediator for the people. Aaron’s rod blossomed – almond blossoms to be precise. Not only that, but there were also ripe almonds in the blossoms. This was later put into the ark of the covenant along with the stone tablets and a jar of manna.
Aaron’s rod that budded was kept as a reminder of God’s way. God’s way is resurrection. A dead stick does not naturally blossom. But with God, all things are possible. Impossibilities are actually his specialty. Ezekiel saw dry bones coming to life again in the valley. This is the principle of God’s working. That is how we know the difference between our way and His way. His ways are higher than our ways “as the heavens are from the earth.”
One more thing. Remember what Jesus called himself? He said, “I am the way, the truth and the life.” Think about the ark for a second. That’s a picture of Jesus too. What was inside? A jar of manna – life, the stone tablets – truth, and the rod that budded – the way. The next time you eat an almond, I hope Jesus comes to mind.
BJ
God (Jehovah, The LORD – it’s good to clarify these things) gave instructions to Moses on Mount Sinai for a tabernacle to be constructed in order for the LORD to dwell with his people. It was elaborate. It took craftsman of all kinds to put it together: weavers and metalworkers mostly. The metalworkers used silver, brass, bronze and gold. One particular furnishing in the tabernacle were golden lamp-stands. God told Moses to make the bowls on the lamps to resemble almond blossoms. Why almond blossoms? They look nice, I’m sure. God never tells Moses why, just that He wants them to look that way. Maybe it was obvious to Moses. It sure wasn’t to me.
So I went looking for more information about almonds. Here is what I found: Almonds grow on trees, and these trees are the first to blossom – of ALL trees. They are in bloom as early as January. That is why God wanted them to adorn the place where he was going to make his presence known. You see, God making a dwelling place here on earth simply pre-figures Jesus. The tabernacle and the temple in the Old Testament are all about Jesus Christ. This aspect of it shows us that Jesus is the first to bloom. He is actually called the “firstfruits” of the new creation God is making. We will follow in the likeness of His resurrection.
When some of the Israelites complained against Moses and Aaron, one of the things God did was to have all of the leaders in the various families to bring their rods to the tabernacle. Aaron’s was brought as well. The test was that whichever rod blossomed was God’s choice of a mediator for the people. Aaron’s rod blossomed – almond blossoms to be precise. Not only that, but there were also ripe almonds in the blossoms. This was later put into the ark of the covenant along with the stone tablets and a jar of manna.
Aaron’s rod that budded was kept as a reminder of God’s way. God’s way is resurrection. A dead stick does not naturally blossom. But with God, all things are possible. Impossibilities are actually his specialty. Ezekiel saw dry bones coming to life again in the valley. This is the principle of God’s working. That is how we know the difference between our way and His way. His ways are higher than our ways “as the heavens are from the earth.”
One more thing. Remember what Jesus called himself? He said, “I am the way, the truth and the life.” Think about the ark for a second. That’s a picture of Jesus too. What was inside? A jar of manna – life, the stone tablets – truth, and the rod that budded – the way. The next time you eat an almond, I hope Jesus comes to mind.
BJ
posted by BJ at 3:45 p.m.
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