Leaves, Part II: Leafless and Leafy in the Bible

A previous post suggested that the first technological act of humans involved leaves. Adam and Eve, as we too often do, messed things up, and God clothed them with something else. It also suggested that there will be leaves in heaven, and that they may be carrying on photosynthesis forever.

Two other musings about leaves in the Bible.

1) Psalm 1 describes the godly person, the person who loves God, as being like a tree, a tree that has leaves that don't wither. For plants, leaves are a way of catching energy from a tremendous outside source. This is turned into nourishment for the plant. Surely there is a good reason why the Psalmist used this method of describing the godly person. She is a person who is tuned to God, receiving energy from Him, nourishing her soul, and that of others.

2) Isaiah 56:3 has an interesting statement: ". . . neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree." (KJV) Isaiah explains the meaning. God, through Isaiah, promised even strangers, people who were not Israelites, and eunuchs, that they could be part of God's people. Both classes were usually excluded from full participation in the congregation. Isaiah said that they didn't need to be. There was, of course, a condition. That was that they kept God's law. Not just any non-Israelite, nor any eunuch, was accepted fully by God. Only those that followed Him were.

Dry tree might mean no fruit, or no leaves, or both. I'm not sure. But there's no reason anyone can't be part of God's followers, if they meet the conditions. I don't want to be dry. I want to have fruit, and leaves.