Welcome to the Wilderness

In the book of Isaiah, there is a prophecy about a work God would do in the wilderness, creating pool, springs, and trees.

Isaiah 41:17-20

The prophet said that these three things would point us to the Lord’s handy work. Not much naturally grows in the wilderness, so whatever does grow there is notable. Each of these can be type of something significant God wants to cultivate within us during the time we spend in the wilderness. Here is a study of each of the trees in Isaiah’s prophecy and how it pertains to the Christian life.

Here are the trees God is growing in us as we go through the wilderness:

The cedar tree

The acacia or shittim tree

The myrtle tree

The oil tree

The cypress or fir tree

The pine tree

The box tree

TENACITY

THE CEDAR TREE 730 erez, from H729; a cedar tree (from the tenacity of its roots):–cedar (tree).

The cedar tree is known for its root growth. They can grow almost anywhere and have roots that seem to tenaciously cling to rocks and places that have very little soil. When we go through the wilderness, God is doing a work so we can have tenacity root growth that enables us to endure any season of life.

1 Peter 5:10 “But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.”

CHASTENING

THE ACACIA TREE 7848 shittah; feminine of a derivative [only in the plural shittiym, shit-teem’, mean. the sticks of wood] from the same as H7850; the acacia (from its scourging thorns):–shittah, shittim.

A tree with scourging thorns brings to mind the idea of chastening, which is not very pleasant, that is, until we see what the Lord is trying to work in us:

Hebrews 12:5-13 “And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons:

“My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord,

Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him;

For whom the Lord loves He chastens,

And scourges every son whom He receives.”

If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.”

By Pen Clark:

Please read the full article at: http://penn-clark.com/Wilderness/Wilderness/WS-6.html