Driving through the orchards on a fall day, I pulled over on the side of the road to lift up a concerted prayer. With eyes closed, I was pressing in to hear from the Lord. As I opened my eyes, I focused in on the almond orchard in front of me. I began to wonder what the spiritual significance almonds have so I began a google search. The words “God is watchful” came up as well as a passage in Jeremiah chapter 1. I quickly read through the chapter and my heart began to ponder the truths of this chapter. I realize this was a conversation between God and Jeremiah but what eternal truths could I take as my own.
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
“Alas, Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am too young.”
But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord. Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “I have put my words in your mouth. See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.”
The word of the Lord came to me: “What do you see, Jeremiah?”
“I see the branch of an almond tree,” I replied.
The Lord said to me, “You have seen correctly, for I am watching to see that my word is fulfilled.”
Jeremiah 1:5-12
I was grateful to see several eternal truths that are for us all.
- We are uniquely created by our loving Father and we are intimately known by Him. We are created with purpose and intentionality and are not a mistake. Our worth and value are intrinsically tied to us being an image-bearer of Him.
- We are His mouthpiece to this world and it is Him that will give us the words to say.
- There are evil kingdoms that He has positioned us to tear down, destroy and overthrow in His name and through His power.
- There is new life that He wants us to build and plant.
- The almond tree is the first to bloom and symbolizes God’s watchfulness as the word word almond comes from a verb which means to watch. God will be ever watchful over us and will make sure that His Word and plans will be fulfilled.
As we are uniquely made, so are His purposes for each of us. At the onset of creation God called us to subdue and have dominion. There is evil that must be squelched and there is God’s truth that must be planted. The beauty of it all is we get to participate in God’s plan for this world. He gives us His words, wisdom, discernment and strength and as we walk the pathway that He has prepared for us, He promises to remain watchful and ensure that His purposes will be fulfilled.
May we live fulfilling the words He has spoken over us!
Rooted In Him,
