This week we celebrated the Jewish holiday, Tu Beshvat, the New Year for trees. The Bible has much to say about trees.

Recently, I came across an advertisement asking for donors to plant trees in the Biblical region of Judea and Samaria, often called the West Bank. The Jewish organization claims millions of trees are being planted by the Palestinian Authority. To combat this, they want to plant millions more – specifically fruit trees.

This “war of trees” is geopolitics at its most basic. It may seem odd to the Western world, whose borders are delineated, and almost every square inch is fenced and deeded in some courthouse. But this small swath of land between Tel Aviv and the Jordan River remains some of the most disputed territory on the planet.

This is actually a reflection of ancient practices as old as Abraham, stretching back to the first tree planted in a garden long ago. With this in mind, I want to step away from modern debates and return to the biblical story itself to ask this powerful question: What rights were granted to you when God planted a tree?

Abraham Plants a Tree

When Abraham came to this same region, he stopped at the landmark called Elon Moreh, literally the “Oak of Moreh”.  (Gen. 12:6) Journeying south, he planted a tamarisk tree near the unclaimed territory of Beer Sheva. By doing so, he sent a message to his neighbors that this small parcel belonged to him. (Gen. 21:33)

Later, when Abraham sought a burial ground for his wife Sarah, he negotiated with Ephron the Hittite for the field and cave near Hebron. But notice carefully how he delineated the terms of the contract.  Paraphrased, Abraham says, “I am buying not only the field and its adjacent cave, but also all the trees that are in the field.” (Gen. 23:17)

In the ancient world, one could purchase the land, but later the seller could make the claim that the trees and their fruit were excluded.  Abraham left no open points of dispute within the contract and deed.

As we will see, God has left no legal ambiguity in the field that He purchased, or in the tree He has planted.

God Plants a Tree

In Scripture, we see several important trees. The Bible even describes people as trees within His field. There’s a very interesting verse, which in the Hebrew, literally says, “For man (is) the tree of the field.” (Deut. 29:19 YLT)

One of the most significant of these analogies is the description of the tree of Jesse.  In what sense was Jesse, the father of the Davidic Dynasty, a tree? Scripture often uses such imagery to describe kings.  Isaiah tells us that this once glorious tree, like a mighty oak, had been cut down.  Now only the stump remained, over which the nations gloated that the House of David was no more.  (Isaiah 11:1)

What they did not realize, however, was that God had left both the stump and its roots deep in the ground. Isaiah prophesied that a shoot would spring forth from the stump of Jesse, and a branch would grow in righteousness. This would be the King Messiah, upon whom the Spirit of God would rest. (Isaiah 11:1-2)

As a Root out of Dry Ground

Isaiah continued his horticultural depiction of the Messiah. He revealed that a root will flourish in dry ground. (Isaiah 53:1) This is God’s tree of salvation. As long as that tree has its roots in the earth, the owner has claim to the field wherein it has been planted.

I will return to the significance of the desolate ground shortly, but first, let’s return to the territorial “tree war” taking place in Judea and Samaria.

Why are these two organizations trying to out-plant the other?  Because the ownership of these fields remains contested. Planted trees serve as proof of claim.  With this understanding, you can better appreciate the most important tree planted on your behalf.

The Tree of Life

Like the wise woman of Proverbs, God considered a field, purchased it, and planted His vineyard – and we are part of it. (Prov. 31:16) Through sin, however, this world became disputed territory.

The garden was just one small portion of the world, but within it God planted the Tree of Life. Humanity was created to live from that tree. In fact, the reason our bodies break down, suffer sickness, and eventually return to the dust from which we were taken is that sin caused us to lose access to it.

By planting the tree in the beginning, God made it clear that He owns the world and the fullness thereof. Satan does not own this world.  But what joy it would be to once again step foot in that garden, to live in close fellowship once again with the Master Gardener of Heaven.

What if I told you that there is One who had “one foot in Eden” and the other in our world, One who extends an invitation home to all? I am speaking of Jesus the Messiah.  Only by seeing the glory of God’s Garden can we fully comprehend the desolation of the dry ground beyond it.

One Foot in Eden

Isaiah prophesied that a tender green shoot, a sapling would spring forth from the stump of Jesse. Isaiah 53 spoke of the coming One as a shoot and a root out of dry ground. Why dry ground?  It is a picture of the world outside of Eden: a land of thorns, thistles, and a pained brow.

Yet this root of Isaiah, first planted in the Garden of God, did not suffer from the effects of the fall. Yeshua, the shoot and sapling of the Tree of Life, entered our world while remaining untouched by sin. In this sense, He stood with one foot still in Eden.

As the Second Adam, Yeshua was perfect. Having never sinned, He existed above the curse of death. That brings us to our final tree.

A Tree to End All Dispute

Some say that Jerusalem is not far from where that ancient garden was planted. For sure, not far from where I write these words, the most tragic of trees stood.  Yeshua of Nazareth – the Netzer, the Branch – carried across His shoulders a wooden beam as He ascended the mount of Moriah. There He willingly submitted Himself to death on a tree.

The perfect Son of God, who knew no sin, became sin that we might become the righteousness of God. (II Cor. 5:21) He who had one foot in Eden fully stepped into our fallen world to save us.

Herein lies the mystery and the majesty: He did so that we might fully enter His world. God planted His Son, Yeshua, upon a tree, because He was making a claim in disputed territory.

The Claim Settled Forever

Whether we like it or not, we are in a war.  The enemy of our souls, Satan, tries to make claims upon our homes, children, and even our eternal destiny.   But here is the truth: he does not own the field, nor the trees within it!

The Cross planted on the Jerusalem hillside two millennia ago ended the dispute.  And you, the fruit of Calvary’s tree, belong to Him.

When God considered the field, He purchased the ground, the burial cave, and the trees.  Yeshua did not remain dead.  On the third day, He rose as proof that the price was accepted.

I don’t know what war you may be facing, and what the enemy is saying, but I do know that this Tree is your assurance that God has rightful claim over you. That doesn’t mean that we don’t have to fight; we do.  I also don’t mean that the enemy won’t try to contest what is settled.  But it does mean that God has called you to leave the dry thorns and thistles of sin to return home to sweet fellowship with your Creator in the Garden of God.

A Final Thought on the Fruit

Aren’t you glad that God left the stump of Jesse? He could have uprooted the tree and started over. Trees are the people of the field, and like trees, sometimes we must be trimmed back.

Today, during this season of the New Year for the trees, many are enjoying the fruits of Israel’s land.  Yeshua offers us the fruit of Calvary’s tree.

If you haven’t already, I encourage you to taste the Tree of Life today.