Heaven Bound

    shards of  glass

Last night, I read another news story regarding Vice President Joe Biden’s recent trip to Israel.  In this story, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was presenting Vice President Biden with a gift in honor of his late mother Mrs. Jean Biden, who passed away this past January.  Mrs. Biden is said to have been a loyal supporter of Israel and so a ring of trees was planted in Israel in her honor and a framed document of the occasion was prepared for Vice President Biden to take home as a gift.  But, before the gift could be given, Prime Minister Netanyahu leaned on the gift by mistake shattering its glass frame.

What an odd incident, I thought. Undoubtedly, an accident.  But, such a strange one!   After giving it a little thought, I realized – it may have been an accident, but, it was not an accident without meaning!  For at high level events such as this, where so much is at stake, there is nothing accidental, not where God is concerned!

All niceties aside, Vice President Biden is in Israel to lean on Israel.  Immense pressure is being placed on Israel for making concessions until a two-state solution is reached.  And, while the incident with the glass frame may at first glance appear minor and insignificant, I believe, its actually packed with some very powerful and important symbolism!  

First of all, the shattering of the glass frame is to me, reminiscent of the glass shattered beneath the foot of a groom at a Jewish wedding. I make this connection for two very important reasons.  The first is because the broken glass at a wedding has to do with a covenant – the marriage covenant.  The symbolism of the broken glass indicating that the marriage should last as long as the glass is broken, in other words – forever!  And, secondly, the document within the frame;  a document concerning the planting of trees –   a document indicative of another covenant which will last forever – the Abrahamic covenant. 

 “I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendents after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendents after you.”  Genesis 17:7

      plant a tree

 The glass frame which shattered, shattered around a document which had to do with the planting of trees.  This is important, because the planting of trees symbolizes the re–birth and restoration of Israel.  The keeping of God’s covenant!  This is why, from its very inception, it has been a practice in Israel to plant a tree in someone’s memory.  It’s an honor to participate in the restoration of the land!   In this small, but, powerful incident, I see God re–affirming his covenant with his ancient people and although, they are under a great deal of pressure today  – in unspoken words, but, very clear symbols –  God is saying, in no uncertain terms, “my covenant is an everlasting covenant – a covenant which will endure as long as the glass remains broken, a covenant which will endure – forever!”  And, that is something you can take back home with you, Joe Biden!

“I will bring back my exiled people Israel; they will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them. They will plant vineyards and drink their wine; they will make gardens and eat their fruit.  I will plant Israel in their own land, never again to be uprooted from the land I have given them, says the Lord.”

Grace and blessings in Messiah Jesus, Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem – and, plant a tree in Israel!  Lot’s of ways you can do it on-line.  Cindy