Introduction.

When God creates all things good for human beings, a specific tree is mentioned: the Tree of Life (Gen 2. 9). It is put in the middle of the Garden of Eden: this garden planted by God (Gen 2. 8).

At the pivot point in the history of humanity is the Tree of the Cross, the life-giving tree.

History comes to an end as the Tree of Life is again mentioned. At the very end of time, it flourishes, perhaps as a group of trees, on both sides of the River of the Water of Life which flows from the Throne of God (Rev 22. 1 – 3). This is in the Holy City of the New Creation.

All through the Bible there is mention of trees and they are often used in familiar stories and events, in poetry and prophesy. They play a part in the story of redemption. In this set of reflections various aspects of trees (some admittedly fairly tenuous) will be examined. Hopefully this will lead to further thought or investigation on the part of the reader.

In general a chronological or historical approach will be used but some freedom and flexibility may also be applied if deemed appropriate or expedient.

This theme has been chosen to take us through the Trinity season because the liturgical colour for this season is green, evoking thoughts of new life, flourishing and hope.

Gopher and Olive

‘You shall come into the ark’ [Gen 6. 18]

‘Noah found favour in the sight of the Lord’ [Gen 6. 8]. While the rest of humanity was misbehaving God saw that Noah was ‘a righteous man … (he) walked with God’[Gen 6. 9]. Noah was commissioned by God to build an ark so that when the flood came Noah and his family and representatives of all the animals would be safe. This vessel was to be made of gopher wood and covered with pitch. It was a sound ship because it lasted all through the forty days of rain and flood.

Gopher is not mentioned anywhere else in the Bible so it cannot really be identified.  It is possible that it is a kind of cedar.

Once all had been blotted out by the deluge, God remembered Noah and caused a wind to blow and the waters to subside and recede. But this took a good time: ‘one hundred and fifty days’ [Gen 8. 3] until the ark came to rest on Mount Ararat. Even then Noah could not be sure it was safe to emerge. He sent out a raven that might be able to survive on dead carrion. The raven did not return. Then Noah sent a dove to see if there was any vegetation but the dove returned. After a further wait, he sent the dove again and the dove returned with an olive leaf. Since the olive is not a tall tree the leaf indicated that the water had probably soaked away. After a few more days Noah and all the crew disembarked safely.

The first thing that Noah did was to build an altar and offer a sacrifice in thanksgiving and God was pleased. This is the first mention of an altar in the Bible. God responds by removing his curse of the ground and promising that God will never again ‘destroy every living creature’ [Gen 8.21].

We are all descendants of Noah.

God had blessed Adam but now, in a fresh start, God blesses Noah and establishes a covenant with him and ‘every living creature’ [Gen 9. 16]. A promise that should be kept by each side and, in the case of God’s part, it is kept regardless of whether humanity breaks its side of the agreement.

Seven Noahide laws emerge from this tale [from Gen 9.1 – 7] to give a code for living:

1. Acknowledge God who cares for creation.
2. Do not curse God or blaspheme.
3. Do not murder.
4. Respect living things
5. Do not steal.
6. Keep sexually pure
7. Ensure justice in our world.

Since we are all descendants of Noah these basic rules apply to all people.

On one side of the font at St George’s is a depiction of the ark:
‘God waited patiently in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark …
And baptism, which this prefigured, now saves you’ [1 Peter 3. 20 – 21].

Father God, you saved Noah and his family in the ark
and led them to dry land,
grant that we may be received into the ark of Christ’s Church
and may safely pass through the waves of our time here on earth
until we come to live with you in everlasting life;
through our Saviour Jesus Christ.  Amen