In Israel, the Almond Tree is the first to awaken toward the end of January while the rest of the trees continue their winter slumber. The Hebrew word for ‘almond’ is the same root word for ‘awaken’ and ‘watch’.... (sha’qed). Jeremiah 1:11-12 “The word of the LORD came to me, What do you see, Jeremiah? I see the branch of a “sha’qed”, (almond tree), I replied. The LORD said to me, you have seen correctly, for I am “shoqed” (watching) to see that My Word is "fulfilled.”
A bit of info: This Almond tree blossoms before all other trees in the spring and will be last to drop its leaves in the fall; while the Olive tree is the last fruit to be harvested in the fall. The husbandman of the orchard watches carefully for the Almond trees to bloom and burst forth in color; it is the signal to begin pruning his Olive trees. Those pruned are interior branches hidden from the light that would produce no fruit. Soon these broken off branches, littering the ground will be gathered, bundled and burned. The pruned tree can then reach for the sun, breathe and will spend the growing season developing good fruit.
This interesting relationship between the Almond tree and the Olive tree illustrates our own relationship with the God of Israel - if we connect the dots that exist between the Menorah of the Tabernacle....(described as an Almond Tree Ex 25:31-40) and the Oil for the Menorah which comes from the Olive Tree. This oil is to be brought to the Priest by the Children of Israel continually....(Ex 27:20). In the natural earthly realm, the almond and olive trees represent the First and the Last to produce fruit.
In the spiritual realm, the inner intimate Holy Place of the Tabernacle - the almond tree and the oil come together and become one to produce and contain the light. Helped by linen wicks, the olive oil in the almond-shaped cups bring forth the light that shines toward the bread, wine and incense on the table in the same room. John 17:21.. that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.
According to John 6:29 “... the ‘work’ of God is this: that you believe in Him whom He sent.” (Oil represents both Word of Truth and Holy Spirit) We could say that it is the ‘work’ of the children of Israel to bring pure oil to keep the lamp of the tabernacle burning. (Ex 27:20) They were to bring the pure olive oil representing Truth and Instruction of His Word (Torah) and the Holy Spirit (Ruach). Hmmmm....Let’s see, Yeshua said that at some point we would... worship the Father in Spirit and Truth. (John 4:24)
When we think this through we see that the gold Menorah shaped like an almond tree together with the pure oil from the olives representing the Torah and Spirit becomes the burning tree that would not consume itself. Our God is a consuming fire to those who are not one with Him, and if we are one with Him will not be consumed. We can draw near and become one with Him because of the finished work of Messiah....if we believe that He is the One sent forth from the Father. No one comes to the Father except through Yeshua. Even as Yeshua told the Samaritan woman: the Father is seeking those who will one day worship Him in Spirit and in Truth; represented by the pure Olive Oil brought continually by the Children of Israel to the priest. Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
I will never look at the menorah in the same light again!
A bit of info: This Almond tree blossoms before all other trees in the spring and will be last to drop its leaves in the fall; while the Olive tree is the last fruit to be harvested in the fall. The husbandman of the orchard watches carefully for the Almond trees to bloom and burst forth in color; it is the signal to begin pruning his Olive trees. Those pruned are interior branches hidden from the light that would produce no fruit. Soon these broken off branches, littering the ground will be gathered, bundled and burned. The pruned tree can then reach for the sun, breathe and will spend the growing season developing good fruit.
This interesting relationship between the Almond tree and the Olive tree illustrates our own relationship with the God of Israel - if we connect the dots that exist between the Menorah of the Tabernacle....(described as an Almond Tree Ex 25:31-40) and the Oil for the Menorah which comes from the Olive Tree. This oil is to be brought to the Priest by the Children of Israel continually....(Ex 27:20). In the natural earthly realm, the almond and olive trees represent the First and the Last to produce fruit.
In the spiritual realm, the inner intimate Holy Place of the Tabernacle - the almond tree and the oil come together and become one to produce and contain the light. Helped by linen wicks, the olive oil in the almond-shaped cups bring forth the light that shines toward the bread, wine and incense on the table in the same room. John 17:21.. that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.
According to John 6:29 “... the ‘work’ of God is this: that you believe in Him whom He sent.” (Oil represents both Word of Truth and Holy Spirit) We could say that it is the ‘work’ of the children of Israel to bring pure oil to keep the lamp of the tabernacle burning. (Ex 27:20) They were to bring the pure olive oil representing Truth and Instruction of His Word (Torah) and the Holy Spirit (Ruach). Hmmmm....Let’s see, Yeshua said that at some point we would... worship the Father in Spirit and Truth. (John 4:24)
When we think this through we see that the gold Menorah shaped like an almond tree together with the pure oil from the olives representing the Torah and Spirit becomes the burning tree that would not consume itself. Our God is a consuming fire to those who are not one with Him, and if we are one with Him will not be consumed. We can draw near and become one with Him because of the finished work of Messiah....if we believe that He is the One sent forth from the Father. No one comes to the Father except through Yeshua. Even as Yeshua told the Samaritan woman: the Father is seeking those who will one day worship Him in Spirit and in Truth; represented by the pure Olive Oil brought continually by the Children of Israel to the priest. Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
I will never look at the menorah in the same light again!