In our neighborhood, there’s a tree.
Well, what’s left of it. Obviously, it has occupied that space for a good, long time for the trunk is massive. It really must’ve been glorious in its prime, when its spreading limbs were in full leaf and color. When birds made their homes in it, and when its shade covered the whole lawn. A sight to behold … in my imagination. Once, the pride of the neighborhood, I’m sure.
But, now, for whatever reason, the tree is mostly dead. The limbs have all been cut off at the elbow, leaving the poor trunk to stand there, merely hinting at its former glory. And yet, apparently, “mostly dead” is not completely dead. One lone limb has somehow retained its connection to the roots and “at the scent of water (has) put out branches like a young plant.” (Job 14:9 ESV) As if to say, “LOOK! There’s STILL life in me!”
“Good for you, old tree!!” But, honestly, one cannot help thinking: “There’s WAY too much TRUNK … to justify that little sprig of leaves. There should be more.”
It reminds me of the story of Dan. He was the fifth son born to Jacob—his descendants became one of the twelve tribes of Israel. The tribe of Dan grew to be massive and mighty—the second-largest fighting force of all the tribes when Israel crossed over Jordan into the Promised Land. (Numbers 1) They were well-equipped to do their share in taking the land in the name of the LORD.
So, what happened?
The parcel of land allotted to the tribe of Dan—the last piece to be assigned—was small, though rich and fertile. The bad news was that it was occupied by fierce Amorites and Philistines, with superior weaponry, who wouldn’t be easily defeated. But, the good news, Joshua told them, was: “The LORD your God will push them back before you and drive them out of your sight. And you shall possess their land, just as the LORD your God promised you.” (Joshua 23:5 ESV)
Without a doubt, this very strategic parcel was not just leftovers, but saved specifically for DAN—who had more than enough of what it took to conquer it, with the LORD’s help. Yet, in spite of all that, Dan despised his allotment, refused to fight for his inheritance, and fell into idolatry.
How could that happen? Dan was raised in the faith of the One True God the same as Judah, having seen what all of Israel had seen—miracles of rescue and provision for the people that God chose to bless. Dan knew God’s promises were true—that His design for them was to FLOURISH!
“(Those who) are planted in the house of the LORD; they flourish in the courts of our God. They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green …” (Psalm 92:12-14 ESV)
But the children of Dan didn’t follow the faith of their fathers—Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. “There arose a generation, which knew not the LORD …” (Judges 2:10 KJV)—that didn’t allow themselves to be “planted in the house of the LORD.” They abandoned their heritage—both in land and faith. They moved as far away from Jerusalem as they could get, clutching a stolen idol as their new god (Judges 18). Sadly, in the end, the tribe of Dan is omitted completely from Israel’s roll call (Revelation 7).
It’s a tale of needless tragedy to see the limb of Dan cut off from Israel’s family tree because of faithlessness and corruption. There had been too much strength, too much available support—too much TRUNK. “Woe to them that are at ease in Zion …” (Amos 6:1 KJV)
This leads us, perhaps, to think of present-day “children of Dan.” Wayward children and grandchildren of spiritual giants—who were once recognized as “big trees” in our Pentecostal “neighborhood.” Those elders whose message had “a certain sound”—whose faith was evergreen—who stood fast and fought hard for the soil they occupied, defending the faith through storms of opposition, ridicule, and hardship. They stood strong not for themselves alone, but to provide shade and enduring roots for the generations of seedlings to come. “They still (bore) fruit in old age; they (were) ever full of sap and green …”
Yet, some of the children of these spiritual giants have now forsaken their heritage and left the House of God to pursue the gods of this world. They may have abandoned their generational faith for fame or fortune—or maybe, like Dan, they just refused to fight for their inheritance. Perhaps they grew up hearing about God but never learned to LOVE Him. Paul told Timothy that “in the last days, perilous times will come” … when children (who know better) will be “heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; (even) having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.” (2 Timothy 3:1-5 KJV)
Perhaps, where once a big “tree” flourished, now there’s just a few leaves. Without being judgey, one can’t help observing, “Wow. There’s WAY too much TRUNK in that family tree for that little bit of green.” WAY too much history. WAY too many godly fathers and saintly mothers … WAY too many years of faithfulness and wisdom in those roots … way too much sacrifice that put steely strength into that bark. Way too much TRUNK … for such a feeble testimony.
But … where there’s even a bit of green, there IS life! And where there’s life, there’s hope! Some “trees” among us seem to be dead—the “faith once delivered” appears to be forsaken. But, this Gospel has not changed—nor has its life-giving, restorative, resurrection power ever been diminished! Faith is not restricted to thrive in one region only, but is cultivated to grow in any culture, any climate, any century … any GENERATION … no matter how much of the tree the storms have destroyed. “At the scent of water,” the tree will sprout again!
“One generation shall praise thy works to another …” (Psalm 145:4 KJV)
The will and purpose of God is that each generation of faith would grow, and seed, and overshadow, and protect the next … causing the Gospel of Jesus Christ to thrive and cover the earth! It’s possible, because the Word of God, once planted, never dies. A truly redeemed LIFE in Christ Jesus, if nourished, WILL flourish into eternity!
And there, in the reclaimed Garden of Eden, the Tree of LIFE—with healing in its leaves—will crown over all the families of the faithful … forever! “The one who stands firm to the end will be saved.” (Matthew 24:13 NIV)
“He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.” (Psalms 1:3 NKJ)
