Shoshi is one of my besties. Our relationship goes back 35 years. For her birthday this year, she asked us to take her to some war sites around the Gaza strip. As settlements and businesses start to recover, Israelis make an effort to shop there as much as they can. So last week a group of us headed south, and among other places, visited a nursery with a unique orchard of olive trees.
The owner, Tamir, walked with us through the orchard and shared his experience of loss and pain. He lost over 50 of his friends and relatives on that fateful day of October 7th. But from the ashes, he is determined to rise up, rebuild and restore. By telling his story in details, to an audience that just wants to be there for him, seems to be part of his own healing process.
The trees he grows tell the story of a nation – that of redemption, restoration, and resilience in face of attemps to exterminate us. So symbolic! And such an experience!
Olive Tree: Israel’s Deep Roots
This is the biggest tree in Tamir’s orchard. It weighs about 18 tons, and is 3,000 years old. Years ago it was uprooted from the northern region and brought to the south. As you can see, it hit deep roots and prevailed. What a symbol of God’s covenant and faithfulness to His promises. Just like the olive tree that thrives in harsh environments, and endures through centuries, so is Israel. In spite of our bloody history of exile, suffering and Islamic jihad, we prevail and are being restored. Am Israel Chai!
Romans 11 highlights this theme and invites the nations to join that olive trunk with humility (vs. 17-18). This war served as one more opportunity for the Gentiles to graft themselves into the right tree. This past year we all watched with mouths wide open how entire nations chose to detach themselves and turn their backs on that invitation. However, we were delighted to find out that within each nation is found a bold remnant that spoke loudly and hung on to that Tree. If you are one of them, I applaud you for that. Well done!
Oak Tree: Strength and Rebirth
Another interesting tree in that orchard prevailed and took over a rock. Take a look at this short clip:
In the Bible, the oak tree symbolizes strength, endurance and protection. One of the key passages is Isaiah 61:3, where God promises to replace ashes, mourning and despair with a crown of beauty, the oil of joy and a garment of praise. It then declares that God’s people will be called “oaks of righteousness,” and that they will be planted by the Lord for the display of His splendor.
I also find it interesting that the trunk of that oak split into two. Hmmm… Jews and Gentiles? Stemming out of the same hidden Rock? Can it be more symbolic than that?
The Remnant of Israel
There is a remnant, there always will be, no matter how many missiles of all kinds will be shot in our direction. Simply because God said so. Just like Tamir, we will prevail and survive to tell of God’s faithfulness.
Join the tree, if you hadn’t done that yet. There is still room around that trunk. At least for the time being.
Orna Grinman | Ot OoMofet Ministries | A Sign and Example 