The olive tree A reminder of the presence of God
by Chrisna Hattingh
Every day I am amazed that God created everything with such care, each thing fulfilling a different purpose, even if it is just pretty to look at, or nice to eat. But in most cases we have to take a deeper look to see the meaning behind the beauty.
If you look at something as simple as the olive, you can’t believe that it plays such a big role in the Bible. There are about 25 references to the olive tree and more than 160 references to olive oil in the Bible. The first reference to the olive tree is in Genesis 8:11. This was after God sent the big flood and Noah sent out a dove to see if the water was subsiding Then the dove came to him in the evening, and behold, a freshly plucked olive leaf was in her mouth; and Noah knew that the waters had receded from the earth. Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the Lord. In Hosea 14:7, the olive trees are referred to as being strong.
Those who dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall be revived like grain, and grow like a vine. Their scent shall be like the wine of Lebanon.
The olive tree also has a remarkable root system and that is what helps it survive in harsh surroundings. However, it needs a lot of care to produce a good crop. If we are firmly rooted in God and the way He wants us to live our lives, we do not have to worry about the rest, because He will take good care of us, cultivating us to produce the fruit of the Spirit. In the Bible there were four main uses for olive oil. It was used for food, for burning their lamps, as an ointment and for making soap. Apart from these uses olive oil also has healing values. There are 191 references to the healing power of olive oil in the Bible. It was, and still sometimes is used to prevent skin cancer, support weight loss, strengthen weak fingernails, soften calluses, heal stomach ulcers, prevent heart attacks and strokes and heal frost bite. It is amazing to think that God created this one plant and fruit so that we can use it for all of these different purposes. We have to thank Him for giving us the knowledge to use the things that He provides through simple plants and fruit, such as the olive tree and its fruit.
Imagine the promise this little leaf gave Noah and everyone aboard the arc.
Just like the love of God for His children, th e olive tree is evergreen and decorates the hills with its green leaves in the winter. The leaves of the olive tree are bluegreen above and grey beneath, and as the wind blows, it can seem like the hills where these trees are planted are shimmering. This shimmer can also be seen as a reminder of the beautiful presence of God. In the Bible these trees were seen as a sign of wealth. Psalm 128:3, 4 refers to how wealthy one would be if you had a lot of children. It also refers to the endless amount of sprouts that can spring form the olive tree. Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine in the very heart of your house, your children like olive plants all around your table.
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