God's Child: Like a Tree: Christian Concepts Series

While every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this book, the publisher assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions, or for damages resulting from the use of the information contained herein.

GOD’S CHILD: Like a Tree

2020-April-15, 20210520, 20230624

Copyright © 2020 Robert Lloyd Russell

Written by Robert Lloyd Russell

Cover Photo: Public Domain

All Rights Reserved Worldwide ~ Permission granted to quote small portions in any Christian assembly such as for use in preaching, small groups, bulletins, newsletters, and teaching materials when attribution included.

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture is taken from:

NIV ~ The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission.

Other Scripture portions as noted are from:

NKJV ~ All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Other Scripture portions as noted are from:

DRB ~ Douay-Rheims Bible, 1899, public domain.

KJV ~ King James Version,1909, public domain

AMP ~ Scripture quotations taken from the Amplified® Bible (AMP), Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987, 2015 by The Lockman Foundation Used by permission.

NASB ~ Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

NIV ~ The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission.

GNT ~ Good News Translation® (Today’s English Version, Second Edition) Copyright © 1992 American Bible Society. All rights reserved.

TLB ~ The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. The Living Bible, TLB, and the The Living Bible logo are registered trademarks of Tyndale House Publishers.

MSG ~ Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.

NASU ~ New American Standard—updated (nasu) © 1995 ~ Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scriptures marked NASU are taken from the New American Standard Updated.

NLT ~ Holy Bible, New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, IL 60188. All rights reserved.

NET ~ NET Bible® copyright ©1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.

ESV ~ Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

NOTES: [1] For consistency and clarity, names and pronouns of God have been capitalized throughout including in Bible versions which do not follow that practice. [2] The author capitalizes three other words: Word when speaking of God’s Word; Church when speaking of the Church universal; and Cross when referring to the Cross of Calvary. [3] Italicized words and [bracketed words] in Scripture have been added by the author. [4] The author does not abbreviate the names of Bible books since abbreviations can be unknown to some readers. [5] The author chooses to use a lot of Scripture quotations based on his belief that the Word of God and the Spirit of God are the two dominant factors in changing lives and growing the lives of Christians.

We hope you enjoy this book. Robert Lloyd Russell’s goal is to provide high-quality, thought-provoking books that connect truth to real life needs and challenges. For more information on his other books based on Biblical interpretation and application, please visit his author’s website https://booksrlr.com/

If you find value in this book, please consider writing an online review. This would be very much appreciated by the author.

Dedication

To all the saints of God who seek to continually grow by being deeply rooted in the Word of God with the aid of nourishment from fellow believers. May their roots grow increasingly deep into a fuller understanding of the tree of salvation—a tree which was crafted by Jesus Christ, the Creator of all, and then used in His sovereignty to cruelly crucify Him as a provision for salvation available to all who will call upon His name.

Reviewer Response

Your Book is awesome. —Holly Tarr

Your Book is great. —Nicole A. Fischer

A reviewer of an earlier manuscript of this book wrote the following:

Mr. Russell has written the definitive work on Psalm 1:3. He has a tremendous gift for analogy. The most impressive thing is the way he has built off of existing undeniable Scriptural concepts. I am very impressed with his use of certain Scriptures, such as with regard to trees being deceptive in appearance. His work is very interesting, very clear, and intensely practical.

Ronald B. Allen, Senior Professor of Bible Exposition, Dallas Theological Seminary (Dr. Ronald Barclay Allen is widely respected as an authority on the Psalms.) Dr. Allen’s book "LORD OF THE SONG: The Messiah Revealed in the Psalms" is well-worth searching out!

Preface

In 1979 our family joined a fast-growing church at the time when they were launching mid-week small groups for adults. In early 1980 the Senior Pastor asked me to coordinate that effort. As part of my early response to that request, I developed a booklet likening the Christian growth pattern to a tree. My basic text was Psalm 1:3. The church grew from over one hundred to about six hundred in a very few years.

From time to time I have returned to that initial writing and made modifications and additions.

It is interesting that early in their schooling most children learn of the vital role of trees in our environment and especially in purifying the air we breathe.

Perhaps this role of trees is part of the explanation of why tree worship was a common practice among ancient religions (particularly in Chinese mythology). There are abundant legends and visual representations associated with the worship of trees. Trees were often grouped into two main categories: life-giving and cosmic. Cosmic trees were those involved in beliefs related to astronomical phenomena and the understanding of the universe. Life-giving trees were those trees related to good fortune in life. Sometimes the distinction was quite blurred.

Today when we think of classifying trees into two categories, many of us would think in terms of conifers (evergreens) and deciduous trees.

What This Book Is About

In the Scriptures we also find two broad classifications: fruit-bearing and non-fruit-bearing trees. We also find a great many parallels between humans and trees throughout the Bible.

One example: "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them" (Matthew 7:15-20).

This comparison between humans and trees is a theme that runs throughout the entire Bible and is the theme of this book.

What This Book Is Not About

Trees are prominent in the history of Israel right up through the present time. For instance, the Law protected fruit trees. When you enter the land and plant any kind of fruit tree, regard its fruit as forbidden. For three years you are to consider it forbidden; it must not be eaten. In the fourth year all its fruit will be holy, an offering of praise to the Lord. But in the fifth year you may eat its fruit. In this way your harvest will be increased. I am the Lord your God (Leviticus 19:23-25).

"When you lay siege to a city for a long time, fighting against it to capture it, do not destroy its trees by putting an ax to them, because you can eat their fruit. Do not cut them down. Are the trees of the field people, that you should besiege them? However, you may cut down trees that you know are not fruit trees and use them to build siege works until the city at war with you falls" (Deuteronomy 20:19-20).

The fifteenth day of Shevat is called Tu b’Shevat (New Year of the Trees). This is the day when it is believed the fruit begins to form and is the day when Israelis plant many saplings. This holiday is still observed in the land of Israel.

During the Ottoman period Israelis were taxed based upon the number of trees on their property. It was a time of major deforestation. Israel has since replanted. Continuing to the present time the planting of trees is a major emphasis in Israel.

One of the names of Jesus Christ in the Old Testament is The Branch. In the New Testament we find that the final atonement for sin by Jesus Christ was on a tree. In the Garden of Eden eating of the forbidden tree brought spiritual death to mankind. At Calvary a tree of death brought eternal life for those who trust in the Messiah.

In this book we do not dig deeply into the many passages and lessons in Scripture concerning fig