SCRIPTURE: Genesis 21
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
(Read my reflection from 2008)
Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there he called on the name of the LORD, the Eternal God. [Genesis 21:33]
This passage ends with Abraham ‘calling on the name of the Lord” by a tree he planted.
It means that he set up a memorial to worship the Lord, a place where he would regularly go and thank God for making him fruitful (like a tree), giving him an heir.
In past times, trees were symbols of life or death – the bible begins and ends with the tree of life [Genesis 2:8-9, Revelation 22:1-2], as well as the tree symbolizing the knowledge of good and evil.
Abraham feels so blessed, so amazed by God, that he erects this memorial tree, and he worships (calls on the name of) the Lord.

Early in the morning, as Jesus was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. 19 Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” Immediately the tree withered. [Matthew 21:18-19]
Jesus’ reaction seems harsh to me, but it also seems that He is making a point, one repeated in the bible often – God plants us to be fruitful, yet we remain barren.
God tells the people of Israel that fruitful trees will be a sign of His blessing, and barren trees a sign of His judgment [see Leviticus 26:4, 26:20].
The point in all of this is that, like a tree, we depend on God for life and sustenance.
With God, it’s amazing what we can do.
Even Hagar and Ishmael discover the blessing of God (under a bush), and with His help they increase and multiply.

I do not like to speak of the power of prayer – it is the power of God through prayer, or rather through faith.
It is faith or confidence in God, not in prayer or human effort or wisdom, that is key.
Apart from God, I am like Hagar and Ishmael, perishing in the wilderness.
But with God, I am able to overcome obstacles and even experience the impossible.
Sarah having a baby on her own at 90, impossible!
Jesus follows the cursing of the fig tree with amazing words – When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?” they asked. Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” [Matthew 21:20-22]
This is not the power of prayer, this is the power of God, and what happens when we place our confidence (faith) in Him.
Put another way, when we call upon the name of the Lord, watch out what God will do!

PRAYER:
Lord, what are the memorial trees that remind me of Your amazing power and love? Remind me again today to trust You, that I may also live a fruitful life!