AS PESACH DRAWS NEAR – by Raphael ben Levi
As spring approaches in Israel the almond tree blossoms and hills are covered with their beautiful pinkish-white flowers and delicate fragrance. They have five petals that represent God’s grace. The blossoms in Jewish thought symbolise the white hair of a righteous person in old age, a ‘Tzadik’ and a sign of God’s favour.
The almond tree is associated with one of the earliest prophecies of Jeremiah. “Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ‘Jeremiah, what do you see?’ And I said, ‘I see a branch of an almond tree.’ Then the Lord said to me, ‘You have seen well, for I am watching to perform My word.’” (Jer. 1:11-12)
This prophecy uses a play on words that conveys an important message. The Hebrew word for almond, “shaked”, can also be translated, “to watch”. By seeing the almond branch, God assured Jeremiah that He is watching over His word to bring it to pass.
God’s redemptive purposes for His covenant people are on the very cusp of fulfilment. We can see it, breathe it and smell it like the fragrance of the almond blossom! Nothing can prevent His word from coming to pass in the fullness of time! (Jer. 31: 28)
Prophetically, the blossoming of the almond tree speaks of the coming of the Bridegroom for His Bride. There is an ancient town in Israel called Luz (‘Almond Tree’) so called because of the vastness of almond trees with their carpet of white flowers that filled their hills, reminding us of the ‘Marriage Supper of the Lamb’ and all that is laid up for the righteous: “Let us rejoice and shout for joy. Let us celebrate and ascribe to Him glory and honour, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His bride has prepared herself. She has been permitted to dress in fine radiant linen, dazzling and white, (pure and holy) for the fine linen is the righteousness of God’s holy people.” (Rev. 19:7-8)
God is reminding His bride that the coming of our redemption draws nigh. Paul refers to this in [2Cor.2:14-16] “But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us spreads and makes evident everywhere the sweet fragrance of the knowledge of Him.”
