Mass Of Fragrant Beauty

 

 

     These tall thorny trees are an ugly sight all winter long.  It is this time of year that we are amazed at the transformation God can make out of the lifeless, dead-looking appearance of these trees.  We look to the north of the house and there are these trees next to some poplar trees that grow along the creek.  The delicate fern shaped leaves are a lush green that wave gracefully in the breeze.

 

 

 

                                    

 

 

  Out of the midst of these leaves come the most wonderful fragrant clumps of hanging white flowers all over these trees for just a few days.  The flowers each start their growth of a pod of seeds.  It is these brown pods that hang on the tree all winter and make it unsightly so we are dreaming of seeing the fresh shoots in the spring again.

           

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Top of the acacia tree covered with white flowers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Acacia trees in the center with white flower.

 

 

 

 

 

 






 " The tabernacle was so constructed that it could be taken apart and borne with the Israelites in all their journeyings. It was therefore small, being not more than fifty-five feet in length, and eighteen in breadth and height. Yet it was a magnificent structure. The wood employed for the building and its furniture was that of the acacia tree, which was less subject to decay than any other to be obtained at Sinai. The walls consisted of upright boards, set in silver sockets, and held firm by pillars and connecting bars; and all were overlaid with gold, giving to the building the appearance of solid gold. The roof was formed of four sets of curtains, the innermost of "fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet: with cherubim of cunning work;" the other three respectively were of goats' hair, rams' skins dyed red, and sealskins, so arranged as to afford complete protection."  




PP 347 





  "With joyful hearts and renewed faith in God, the victorious armies of Israel had returned from Bashan. They had already gained possession of a valuable territory, and they were confident of the immediate conquest of Canaan. Only the river Jordan lay between them and the Promised Land. Just across the river was a rich plain, covered with verdure, watered with streams from copious fountains, and shaded by luxuriant palm trees. On the western border of the plain rose the towers and palaces of Jericho, so embosomed in its palm-tree groves that it was called "the city of palm trees."   

     On the eastern side of Jordan, between the river and the high tableland which they had been traversing, was also a plain, several miles in width and extending some distance along the river. This sheltered valley had the climate of the tropics; here flourished the shittim, or acacia, tree, giving to the plain the name, "Vale of Shittim." It was here that the Israelites encamped, and in the acacia groves by the riverside they found an agreeable retreat."  





PP 453