GOD GIVES US PLANT LIFE TO ENJOY
“The LORD God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food.”
Genesis 2:9
Scientists estimate there are 23,000 different types of trees in the world. Many are quite unusual like the Dragon Blood tree of Somalia that has a bare trunk and spiky leaves, or the Sausage Tree of southern Africa that looks like it has sausage-shaped fruit hanging from its branches. Some trees are dangerous like the poisonous beach apple also known as the “little apple of death” tree, while others bear good fruit like orange trees. Some trees are a few inches tall and others are massive trees like the Sequoia in California. At creation: “The LORD God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food” (Genesis 2:9).
Scientists also estimate there are 223,000 different types of flowers and 4,000 varieties of vegetables. God’s blessings are overwhelming! Think of the many beautiful flowers we enjoy like roses, pansies, and zinnias. God made many flowers because he loves us and wants us to enjoy his marvelous creation. Jesus once pointed to a beautiful lily and said that not even wealthy King Solomon in his finest robes could compare with the beauty of a lily.
God had a purpose behind this marvelous creation. Besides providing food and beauty, he gave us plants to use in other ways. Medicines, clothing, and wood to build our houses are just a few.
Plus God planned how to keep them all alive. They would soak up sunshine, carbon dioxide, and water. Sunshine is all around us. Carbon dioxide is made by people every time we exhale, and water is provided by rain, rivers, and lakes. With these three ingredients, plants can stay alive. And then they do some miraculous work. Each little plant is an oxygen factory. People need oxygen to breath. Without plants, people could no longer survive. We need the plants and they need us.
The wisdom of God has no end. God brilliantly planned his creation and now keeps it alive. There is no end to the power and majesty of God. The next time we see a flower, a tree, or even a simple blade of grass, we should stop for a moment and consider the wonder of God’s creation, and then thank him for being so good and gracious.
Each little flower that opens, each little bird that sings,
He made their glowing colors, He made their tiny wings.
The tall trees in the greenwood, the meadows where we play,
The rushes by the water, to gather every day.
From Living for Jesus by Reynold R. Kremer