The Light of God
The Olive Tree and the Light of God
Imagine this: it hasn't rained for weeks, maybe even months. The sun beats down every day. The ground is cracked and dry. Many plants have withered, and dry twigs snap under your feet. But in the middle of this parched land stands a tree that stays green: the olive tree.
The olive tree is tough. Its roots grow deep, searching for water that other plants can't reach. It can survive years of drought and still bear fruit. Around the Mediterranean and the Middle East, it's a familiar sight. It grows slowly, but it can live for hundreds of years.
In the Bible, the olive tree is often a symbol of hope and life. Think of Noah's story. After the flood, he sent out a dove from the ark. The first time, the dove returned empty. But the second time, it came back with an olive branch in its beak (Genesis 8:11). That was the sign that the water had gone down, and life was returning to the earth.
In Bible times, olives weren't just eaten. Oil was pressed from them. And that oil was precious. It was used for cooking, for healing wounds, but especially to keep lamps burning. In the tabernacle, and later in the temple, oil lamps burned day and night, fueled by pure olive oil (Exodus 27:20-21). Without that oil, there would be no light in the holy place.
Olive oil was also used to anoint people. Prophets, priests, and kings were anointed to show that God had chosen them and gave them strength for their task (1 Samuel 16:13).
The word "Messiah" in Hebrew, and "Christ" in Greek, both mean the Anointed One. Jesus is the one chosen and empowered by God's Spirit (Acts 10:38). Just as olive oil made the lamp burn bright, God's Spirit brought light and life through Jesus. In John 8:12, He said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
What This Teaches Us
Like the olive tree, we need deep roots. Not in water underground, but in God's Word. If we feed on His promises and wisdom, we can stand strong, even when life feels dry and difficult.
And just as the lamp in the tabernacle burned day and night, God wants us to be light-bearers in the world. Jesus said in Matthew 5:14-16: "You are the light of the world. Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."
The olive tree doesn't give up in times of drought. It stays green, keeps bearing fruit, and its oil brings light and life. That's exactly what we can do: persevere, bear fruit, and let God's light shine through us, nourished by His Spirit and rooted in His Word.
As David says in Psalm 52:8:
"But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God;
I trust in God's unfailing love for ever and ever."
So the next time you see an olive tree or even just a jar of olives in the store remember this: God calls us to root deeply, bear fruit, and shine light, just like that tree that never gives up.