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God Is Watching

What we learn from almond trees 

The sight of flowering almond trees currently in the Troödos Mountain range in Cyprus is nothing short of delightful. Not only do they add bursts of light to the drab winter landscape, but they also shed a delicate fragrance in the wind. When we see the almond blossoms, we know spring is on its way.
History 

Originating in the Middle East, almond trees are now found throughout the Mediterranean, Southern Europe, Africa and America. It is not known when the tree was domesticated, but evidence of domesticated almonds from as early as the 4th century B.C. has been found at the archaeological site Numeira in Jordan.¹ 

The almond tree is also mentioned several times in the Old Testament. Almonds were among the produce sent by Jacob as a gift for Joseph in Genesis 43. The miraculous budding of Aaron’s rod in Numbers 17 was that of an almond rod. The design of the lampstand in the Tabernacle was based on the motif of almond buds and blossoms (Exodus 25:31–36).
What do you see? 

In Jeremiah chapter 1 we read of a conversation between the young prophet Jeremiah and God. God asks Jeremiah what he sees and he replies: 

“I see a branch of an almond tree.” (Jeremiah 1:11, NKJV) 

The LORD replies: 

“You have seen well, for I am ready to perform My word.” (Jeremiah 1:12, NKJV) 

The word for ‘almond tree’ in Hebrew is derived from the word for ‘watchful’. The play on words is lost in the English translation, but it becomes clear when the Hebrew is highlighted: The ‘almond tree’ is saqed and God is ‘watching’ (soqed) over his word to fulfil it.” (Feinberg).²
He is watching 

When we watch the news today and witness the horror of current events, we could easily become discouraged and fearful. We could justifiably wonder where God is in all of this mayhem and ask why He appears to be silent. Why does He permit such suffering? Why does He not intervene to stop the evil? 

There is no easy answer to these questions. As we pray with heavy hearts for our world, let us remember that our Sovereign God is watching and He hears the prayer of the righteous: 
 
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil. (1 Peter 3:12, NKJV) 

Just as the almond blossoms appear after the long winter as a sign of the coming spring, we are assured that God is watching over His word and will fulfil it in His appointed time. 

• • •

References: 
 
1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Almond 
2. https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/jeremiah-1/
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