Exodus 25:31-39 31 “Make a lampstand of pure, hammered gold. Make the entire lampstand and its decorations of one piece—the base, center stem, lamp cups, buds, and petals. 32 Make it with six branches going out from the center stem, three on each side. 33 Each of the six branches will have three lamp cups shaped like almond blossoms, complete with buds and petals. 34 Craft the center stem of the lampstand with four lamp cups shaped like almond blossoms, complete with buds and petals. 35 There will also be an almond bud beneath each pair of branches where the six branches extend from the center stem. 36 The almond buds and branches must all be of one piece with the center stem, and they must be hammered from pure gold. 37 Then make the seven lamps for the lampstand, and set them so they reflect their light forward. 38 The lamp snuffers and trays must also be made of pure gold. 39 You will need seventy-five pounds[g] of pure gold for the lampstand and its accessories.
I'm not sure what God's idea behind the flowers on the lampstands was, but I can tell you that I long to see those lampstands now. In my head, I'm seeing the lampstand as Jesus, and the flowers as his love, beautiful, breath taking but delicate seeming. I don't know much about this flower, but from what I understand it blooms sometime in Feburary. I'm gathering mid month, now I don't know about you, but anything that is a "normal" bloomer in the month of Feburary seems pretty hardy to me. They grow (here in the US) in California, which has a much better Feburary then say Main...but Feburary is known to be most US states coldest month of the year. This Feburary especially. Here in Oklahoma, we had a foot of snow last week...A FOOT!!! We don't normally get that kind of weather here, and we are expecting more this week (thankfully MOST of last weeks snow melted away on Saturday) and if those fronts are here, they had to come from somewhere right? From what I can tell most of our weather starts off in the West and works it's way East. So I'm guessing that California is at least a little bit off in thier weather patterns for the month as well, yet I've read on one blog that the Almond trees are starting thier blooms a little early this year. That doesn't sound delicate to me!
God's love for us, a love that is so large that He sent His only Son to die on a Cross for us, is ANYTHING but delicate to me. It's strong, beautiful and yes, breath taking. After all, who am I, that Christ would save me from my sins? The Bible says, in Romans 5:8 "But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners." Think about that, while I was STILL sinning, God sent His Son to die for me, so that I could be saved. That image in my head is so breath taking that I just don't know how to obsorb it. But I know that I'm thankful for it. I know that I will strive in my life to show Him how much I appreciate that. Thank you Jesus for your Almond Blossom love, the beauty and strength of it blow me away! I love you Jesus!
...and the blossoming of the almond tree may be more significant than we are aware. In the Word of God, the almond tree is associated with the priesthood and righteousness: the menorah, Aaron's rod (branch), Jeremiah's vision, Mountain of Almonds (Mt. Sinai in Midian). The cycle of the almond tree seems to correspond exactly with the feasts of the LORD.
ReplyDeleteConsider that the menorah was a golden blossoming almond tree...but instead of producing the fruit of an almond, the menorah produced the fruit of light. The Righteous Branch said that He is the light of the world. Like the center branch on the menorah, if we are a branch that is grafted into Him, then we shall also produce the fruit of light.
Consider that the almond tree blossoms towards the end of the winter season (night season) and that the thief comes like a thief in the "night". Like the almond tree remaining watchful for the changes in the seasons, we are to remain alert and watchful...which is what the word for almond means in the Hebrew. And the shape of our eyes give us a hint as to what we are to be watching!
Also consider that the Righteous Branch is called the Prince of Peace. As the white blossoms fall to the ground 5-14 days after awakening, it is as if they are laying down a white carpet for the coming of a Righteous King. (The season of winter is a season of peace.)
It is interesting to note that the time that the dead (dead bones of Joseph) and the living (the children of Israel) were brought out of Egypt was on the 1st Day of Unleavened Bread during the month of Abib (which very well may refer to the blossoming of the almond tree). There is mention of another time the dead and living will be brought up. Remember that our Heavenly Father follows cycles and patterns.
Here is a link to a presentation that explains in detail the cycle of the almond tree:
http://www.righteousbranch.org/prodigy-of-the-almond-tree.html
In the Word of God, people are compared to trees. There is a great parable in the cycle of the almond tree as it compares to people:
The almond tree is the first of the fruit trees to awaken from its winter slumber. We are told to be alert, watchful, watchman.
The almond tree awakens from its winter slumber and clothes itself in white blossoms. We are to clothe ourselves in garments of righteousness.
The almond tree produces firstfruits that hastily grow over a course of weeks. In the Middle East, a few a handpicked and sold in the markets as delicacies. The Righteous Branch chose a few to follow Him. He is the firstfruit of the resurrection. Those who follow Him are firstfruits.
The summer heat causes the flesh of the fruit to wither. The heat of trial and tribulations withers our flesh/sinful desires.
At the final harvest, all that remains is a single seed that is known as one of the world's healthiest foods. The seed is the Word of God; "The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. Scripture does not say 'and to seeds,' meaning many people, but 'and to your seed,' meaning one person, who is Christ.
Moses and Aaron performed signs and wonders as long as they were holding on to the branch (Aaron's was revealed to be a blossoming almond branch). The waters obeyed. Through the branch in their hand, salvation was brought to the children of Israel. When the Righteous Branch walked on the earth, the waters obeyed Him. The Righteous Branch brought salvation. The Righteous Branch performed signs and wonders. If we hold on to the Righteous Branch, then we too shall be able to perform signs and wonders.
May each of us continue to grow in grace and knowledge of The Righteous Branch... and remain watchful and alert!
...and the blossoming of the almond tree may be more significant than we are aware. In the Word of God, the almond tree is associated with the priesthood and righteousness: the menorah, Aaron's rod (branch), Jeremiah's vision, Mountain of Almonds (Mt. Sinai in Midian). The cycle of the almond tree seems to correspond exactly with the feasts of the LORD.
ReplyDeleteConsider that the menorah was a golden blossoming almond tree...but instead of producing the fruit of an almond, the menorah produced the fruit of light. The Righteous Branch said that He is the light of the world. Like the center branch on the menorah, if we are a branch that is grafted into Him, then we shall also produce the fruit of light.
Consider that the almond tree blossoms towards the end of the winter season (night season) and that the thief comes like a thief in the "night". Like the almond tree remaining watchful for the changes in the seasons, we are to remain alert and watchful...which is what the word for almond means in the Hebrew. And the shape of our eyes give us a hint as to what we are to be watching!
Also consider that the Righteous Branch is called the Prince of Peace. As the white blossoms fall to the ground 5-14 days after awakening, it is as if they are laying down a white carpet for the coming of a Righteous King. (The season of winter is a season of peace.)
It is interesting to note that the time that the dead (dead bones of Joseph) and the living (the children of Israel) were brought out of Egypt was on the 1st Day of Unleavened Bread during the month of Abib (which very well may refer to the blossoming of the almond tree). There is mention of another time the dead and living will be brought up. Remember that our Heavenly Father follows cycles and patterns.
Here is a link to a presentation that explains in detail the cycle of the almond tree:
http://www.righteousbranch.org/prodigy-of-the-almond-tree.html
In the Word of God, people are compared to trees. There is a great parable in the cycle of the almond tree as it compares to people:
The almond tree is the first of the fruit trees to awaken from its winter slumber. We are told to be alert, watchful, watchman.
The almond tree awakens from its winter slumber and clothes itself in white blossoms. We are to clothe ourselves in garments of righteousness.
The almond tree produces firstfruits that hastily grow over a course of weeks. In the Middle East, a few a handpicked and sold in the markets as delicacies. The Righteous Branch chose a few to follow Him. He is the firstfruit of the resurrection. Those who follow Him are firstfruits.
The summer heat causes the flesh of the fruit to wither. The heat of trial and tribulations withers our flesh/sinful desires.
At the final harvest, all that remains is a single seed that is known as one of the world's healthiest foods. The seed is the Word of God; "The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. Scripture does not say 'and to seeds,' meaning many people, but 'and to your seed,' meaning one person, who is Christ.
Moses and Aaron performed signs and wonders as long as they were holding on to the branch (Aaron's was revealed to be a blossoming almond branch). The waters obeyed. Through the branch in their hand, salvation was brought to the children of Israel. When the Righteous Branch walked on the earth, the waters obeyed Him. The Righteous Branch brought salvation. The Righteous Branch performed signs and wonders. If we hold on to the Righteous Branch, then we too shall be able to perform signs and wonders.
May each of us continue to grow in grace and knowledge of The Righteous Branch... and remain watchful and alert!