Today’s Reading: Genesis 21:27-34; Psalm 84
So Abraham brought sheep and cattle and gave them to Abimelek, and the two men made a treaty. Abraham set apart seven ewe lambs from the flock, and Abimelek asked Abraham, “What is the meaning of these seven ewe lambs you have set apart by themselves?” – Genesis 21:17-29
WHY SEVEN LAMBS?
On that day, Abraham made a covenant with King Abimelek — a promise that he would show kindness and deal honestly with the people of Gerar. You see, the king had generously allowed Abraham and his large family to set up tents and live wherever they wanted to in his country, but now he was asking for reciprocity. Now he was securing a covenant relationship that would protect his family and country from this growing group of foreigners. Abimelek was making his hospitality official, recognizing that Abraham’s family could stay and live in peace, if they would indeed promise to live peacefully with the people of Gerar.
Abraham gave King Abimelek sheep and cattle to signify his commitment to this treaty. I guess you could say he was putting some “skin in the game” — he was making both a verbal commitment and a sacrificial transaction. That made sense to the king, but the additional seven ewe lambs did not. So the king inquired about the significance of this extra gift.
He replied, “Accept these seven lambs from my hand as a witness that I dug this well.”
So that place was called Beersheba, because the two men swore an oath there. – Genesis 21:30-31
To protect their relationship and take away the opportunity for future conflict, Abraham purchased the well he had dug by giving the king seven female lambs. These lambs would continue to reproduce and be a blessing to the king. The intentionality of Abraham’s gift gave clarity to the ownership of the well, which would hopefully prevent future conflict between the king’s servants and Abraham’s family. Abraham in essence got out in front of the potential problem in order to protect their relationship and stay true to his word.
After the treaty had been made at Beersheba, Abimelek and Phicol the commander of his forces returned to the land of the Philistines. Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there he called on the name of the Lord, the Eternal God. And Abraham stayed in the land of the Philistines for a long time. – Genesis 21:32-34
WHY A TAMARISK TREE?
Earlier in this chapter, we read of a grieving mother who laid down her son under a shrub to die. She trusted the shrub to provide the boy with a comfortable place to rest from the heat of the sun while he took his last breaths. God opened Hagar’s eyes to show her a nearby well of water. God provided sustenance at just the right moment, and He continued to be with Ishmael as he grew up (21:20). Today we consider Ismael’s father and the significance of a new planting — a new moment with beautiful significance.
The tamarisk tree is known for its ability to cool and provide shade for desert travelers. During the hottest part of the day, the tamarisk tree secretes salt. At night, the salt absorbs the moisture in the night air. As the day begins, that water evaporates in such a way that a cooling effect is created, similar to air conditioning. The tree produces beautiful pink or white flowers, and is known to live up to 100 years. With roots growing as deep as 30 feet below the surface, the tamarisk tree draws from the deep water tables to survive even in the heat of the desert. There is a sense of endurance and perseverance with this desert tree. [https://ww2.odu.edu/~lmusselm/plant/bible/tamarix.php]
When I question the significance of planting a tamarisk tree, I consider this moment in Abraham’s life when he was finally able to put in deep roots. God was providing a place for him to stay and live in peace with the Philistines. After years of nomadic life, this must have felt like a cool breeze on a hot summer day to Abraham.
It was also common to plant a tree in honor of a great man, so perhaps the significance of this tree was to honor the God who had provided Abraham with a son, land, water and now a season of peace. The credit would not go to the hospitality of the king or the shrewd business contract made by Abraham, but rather the glory would go to God. Instead of letting the significance of this moment pass, Abraham took time to worship God at Beersheba, and to plant a tree in remembrance of God’s beautiful provision.
How lovely is your dwelling place,
O Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
I long, yes, I faint with longing
to enter the courts of the Lord.
With my whole being, body and soul,
I will shout joyfully to the living God.
Even the sparrow finds a home,
and the swallow builds her nest and raises her young
at a place near your altar,
O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, my King and my God!
What joy for those who can live in your house,
always singing your praises. – Psalm 84:1-4
Let’s take a moment this morning to recognize the Lord’s provision in our own life. In what ways has he blessed us, and in what ways has he equipped us for success? Let’s recognize those moments when resting in God’s presence is like reclining in the shade of a tamarisk tree in the middle of our desert.
A single day in your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else!
I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God than live the good life in the homes of the wicked.
For the Lord God is our sun and our shield.
He gives us grace and glory.
The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right.
O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, what joy for those who trust in you. — Psalm 84:10-12